What began as a jubilant celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden IPL title ended in tragedy on Wednesday, when a stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium left at least 11 people dead and over 30 injured. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow, calling the incident “heart-rending.”
Thousands of fans had gathered to greet the team, which was holding its victory parade following an 18-year wait for the trophy. However, poor crowd management, confusion over entry procedures, and the overwhelming turnout led to chaos.
Eyewitnesses described people fainting and being trampled as crowds surged through the stadium gates. Some fans even attempted to climb walls and trees for a glimpse of their heroes.
Metro records revealed a staggering 8.7 lakh passengers used the service that day — many heading to the stadium — making it one of the highest single-day commuter counts, and adding to the pressure on an already overwhelmed city centre. Authorities later halted metro services at key stations near the venue in a last-minute attempt at crowd control.
Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered a magisterial inquiry, admitting, “No one expected this crowd. The tragedy has erased the joy of victory.” Deputy CM D K Shivakumar also acknowledged the authorities were “unable to make proper arrangements.”
Amid reports of unconscious fans being carried from metro stations and police using canes to control the crowd, metro services were briefly suspended, and mobile jammers deployed to manage the chaos. Hospitals nearby reported treating cases ranging from dehydration and fractures to trauma.
RCB released a statement saying it was “deeply anguished” by the events, offering condolences and confirming that their programme was amended once the situation became clear. A planned victory lap was cancelled, and players left the venue early.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia called the incident “a negative side of popularity,” noting that better planning was required for such large-scale events.
The stadium, which holds 35,000, saw crowds reportedly reaching over 200,000 across surrounding areas. While fans inside celebrated with the team, outside, confusion and grief engulfed families who had only come to witness history — and instead became part of a tragedy.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
