Tragedy struck on Wednesday as at least 11 people lost their lives and dozens more were injured in a deadly crowd crush outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
The incident occurred during celebrations of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cricket team’s first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) championship victory.
Thousands of fans had gathered to celebrate the historic win, but the festivities turned chaotic as the massive crowd surged toward the stadium entrances.
Authorities had cancelled a planned victory parade due to fears of overcrowding, but a celebration inside the stadium went ahead, with the team arriving by bus. Fans desperate to enter the stadium overwhelmed the gates, leading to a stampede.
Hospital officials reported receiving multiple casualties. Bowring Hospital admitted six deceased and 19 injured individuals, while Vydehi Hospital received four dead and 12 injured. Many victims were young, including a 14-year-old girl, a software engineer, and an engineering student. Officials warned the death toll could rise.
Witnesses described a scene of chaos and confusion near the stadium gates. Siddharth H.N., a graduate student present at the event, said, “It was chaotic near the gates, and it was exceedingly challenging for the police and stadium personnel to manage the throng.” Police resorted to crowd control measures, including lathi charges, but struggled to contain the overwhelming numbers.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating, “No one expected such a huge crowd… The stadium has a capacity of only 35,000 people, but 200,000 to 300,000 people came.” He confirmed that 11 people had died and 33 were injured, many of whom were receiving hospital care.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar described the crowd as “absolutely uncontrollable” and apologized to the public. Opposition leaders criticized the state government for poor planning and inadequate safety measures. B.Y. Vijayendra, leader of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka, said, “The state government must assume full accountability for this disaster. They showed little regard for prior planning and were more focused on gaining publicity.”
Despite the tragedy, the victory celebration inside the stadium continued, with the RCB team waving to cheering fans. However, IPL officials later acknowledged that stadium authorities were unaware of the stampede until after the event had begun.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association announced compensation packages for the victims’ families and expressed condolences. Investigations into the causes of the stampede and the adequacy of security arrangements are underway.
This devastating incident highlights the dangers of overcrowding at large public events and raises urgent questions about crowd management and safety protocols during mass celebrations in India.
