Bengaluru, June 4, 2025 — A celebratory event turned tragic in Bengaluru on Wednesday after a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed the lives of 11 people and injured several others. The incident occurred during a victory parade and fan engagement programme organised by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to celebrate their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title win.
According to officials, an estimated 2.5 lakh fans gathered along MG Road and Cubbon Road near the stadium, following a sudden announcement made by RCB on the morning of June 4 through social media platforms. The post informed fans about a celebratory parade from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium, along with a felicitation event inside the venue.
Chaos erupted outside the stadium as thousands of fans attempted to enter, leading to a stampede. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of panic, with footwear, bags, and personal belongings strewn across the area in the aftermath.
In a significant development on Tuesday, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) observed that RCB was “prima facie responsible” for the tragedy.
“It appears that RCB is responsible for the gathering of about three to five lakh people. The RCB did not take appropriate permission or consent from the police,” the Tribunal stated in its observation.
The CAT further criticized the franchise for making a last-minute announcement without coordinating with law enforcement agencies.
“Police personnel are also human beings. They are neither God nor magicians with powers like ‘Alladdin ka Chirag’ to manage such an unprecedented crowd on such short notice,” the order noted.
Officials said the short lead time left the police department with inadequate time to prepare for crowd management, leading to severe lapses in controlling the turnout.
The RCB management has so far refrained from commenting on the CAT’s observations. Meanwhile, earlier this week, charges were formally filed against both RCB and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). The fallout also led to the resignation of KSCA Secretary A. Shankkar and Treasurer Jayaram.
The tragedy has sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for better event planning, safety measures, and accountability from sports franchises and authorities alike.
