What was meant to be a historic celebration for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) turned tragic on Wednesday as a stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium left several fans dead and over 50 injured. The chaos erupted as thousands of supporters rushed toward the stadium gates to witness the team’s first-ever IPL championship celebration.
Authorities confirmed that two bodies were taken to Bowring Hospital, while four others were at Vaidehi Hospital. Additionally, six individuals remain in the ICU at Vaidehi Hospital, with three others receiving critical care. Reports indicate that two more fatalities may have occurred, though an official statement is still awaited.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar visited Bowring Hospital to assess the situation. Police struggled to manage the overwhelming crowd, which had gathered since Tuesday night. Despite heavy security deployment, fans climbed trees and perched on branches to catch a glimpse of the celebration.
The stampede occurred as fans attempted to enter the stadium from multiple gates, leading to a surge that overwhelmed security personnel. Ambulances faced difficulty navigating through the congested roads, delaying medical assistance for the injured. In a separate incident, a fan attempting to jump into the stadium from a gate fell and suffered a broken leg.
The Karnataka government had earlier canceled the planned victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium, citing security concerns. However, massive crowds still gathered at Vidhana Soudha, where police resorted to a mild cane-charge to control the situation.
RCB players arrived at HAL Airport on Wednesday, where they were personally welcomed by Deputy CM Shivakumar, who presented bouquets to each player. Cricketer Virat Kohli received both the RCB team flag and the Kannada flag, posing for photographs with Shivakumar.
The tragedy has cast a shadow over RCB’s long-awaited IPL 2025 victory, raising concerns about crowd management and event security. Authorities are expected to release further details as investigations continue.
