Bengaluru, 5 June 2025 — A major tragedy struck the city on Wednesday evening as a stampede broke out outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium during celebrations for Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) historic IPL 2025 win. The incident claimed the lives of 11 people and injured 33 others.
Thousands of fans had gathered outside the stadium to catch a glimpse of their favourite cricketers after RCB clinched their first-ever IPL trophy, ending an 18-year-long wait. However, the crowd turned unmanageable, leading to panic and a deadly stampede.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, addressing a press conference on Thursday morning, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives. “This should not have happened. The government offers its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased,” he said.
The Karnataka government announced an ex gratia compensation of ₹10 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased person. Additionally, free medical treatment will be provided to the injured at state-run hospitals.
CM Siddaramaiah made it clear that the government would not play politics over the tragedy. “I don’t want to justify this incident by comparing it to other stampedes. Yes, such incidents have happened, including at the Kumbh Mela where 50–60 people died, but I did not criticise that event,” he stated.
In response to criticism from the opposition, the CM pointed out that while individual Congress members may comment, the Karnataka government itself has not politicised past tragedies and will continue to focus on providing support and justice.
The chief minister confirmed that he has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the stampede and set a 15-day deadline for the report. He admitted that the scale of the crowd was not anticipated. “The stadium can accommodate 35,000 people, but almost 2–3 lakh people turned up. The gates were broken in the chaos,” he explained.
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar also addressed the public and extended his apologies for the mishap. “We are very sorry. This was a moment of celebration that turned tragic,” he said.
Several leaders, including Shashi Tharoor, commented on the tragedy, pointing out the country’s poor crowd control systems. “We are not terribly good at managing large gatherings,” Tharoor remarked.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences in a statement posted by the Prime Minister’s Office on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). “The mishap in Bengaluru is absolutely heartrending. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover soon,” said the PM.
RCB’s win, which took place in Ahmedabad on Tuesday against Punjab Kings, had ignited widespread jubilation among fans across Karnataka. However, the uncontrolled crowd turnout at the celebratory event turned the joy into mourning.
Security experts and crowd management professionals are calling for stricter safety protocols for public events, especially when sports teams celebrate major victories. Analysts noted that prior communication and crowd control mechanisms were lacking.
As Bengaluru mourns this tragic loss, the state government faces mounting pressure to ensure accountability and implement stricter protocols to avoid such disasters in the future.
The city has declared a day of mourning, and several memorial events are being organised in remembrance of the victims. Families of the deceased are being supported by local authorities and volunteers.
This heartbreaking incident has once again raised critical questions about event planning, public safety, and civic preparedness in the country.
