Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, June 4: At least 11 people were killed and more than 35 othets, including a six-year old girl, were injured in a stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru as 18 years long wait to win the Indian Premier League (IPL) cup turned into a frenzied celebrations among the fans of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Wednesday.
The police sources said while seven bodies were kept at the Bowring Hospital in Shivajinagar, three persons died in the Vaidehi Hospital (previously Mallya Hospital). It is learnt that fans were injured after a stampede-like situation erupted at Gate No.3 of the stadium where the RCB team was expected to turn up to celebrate the much-awaited victory.
A sea of loyal RCB fans began converging at the Stadium since early evening, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite players with the much-coveted trophy which the RCB won defeating Punjab Kings XI in the finals at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday night. The players with the trophy were supposed to arrive at the stadium as part of an open-bus victory parade from Vidhan Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Roads in and around the stadium were choked and traffic police had trouble ensuring smooth movement of vehicles in the central business district (CBD) area as huge crowds descended by road, Namma Metro, and on foot. At the nearby Bowring Hospital, ambulances carrying injured people continued to arrive, drop them, and head back again. Rain was reported in and around the stadium just after 5 p.m.
Injured persons have been admitted to the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital.
The chaos began after a crowd gathered near M Chinnaswamy Stadium for a felicitation of the team held by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). Visuals showed police shifting injured and unconscious people to a nearby hospital. Many people who came to watch the celebrations fainted amid the stampede, eyewitnesses said.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the crowd was “uncontrollable.” “I apologise for the overcrowding,” Mr Shivakumar said. “We arranged more than 5,000 personnel. This is a young vibrant crowd, we can’t use lathi on them.”
Thousands of fans thronged the Chinnaswamy stadium to catch a glimpse of the team’s stars, including the talismanic Virat Kohli. Before heading to the stadium, the RCB team went to Vidhana Soudha for a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
RCB defeated Punjab Kings by six runs in the IPL final at Ahmedabad on Tuesday to clinch their maiden title in 18 years. It was another major achievement for the team’s talisman Virat Kohli, who has only played for this franchise since the league’s inception.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had organised the special felicitation ceremony inside the stadium for the RCB squad, following their triumphant return from Ahmedabad. However, the sheer volume of fans who turned up — many without entry passes — created a volatile situation. Eyewitnesses reported fans scaling stadium walls and fences in desperation, trying to make their way inside to see the players. A few fans have also been reportedly admitted to hospital.
Police personnel on the ground repeatedly appealed to the crowd to maintain order and disperse, warning against unlawful entry and unsafe behaviour. Despite the warnings, the crowd grew more restless, and at several points, law enforcement had to resort to a mild lathi-charge to manage the situation.
The scenes at some Bengaluru Metro stations near the stadium also showed huge crowds coming out of trains and taking the stairs. Exit and entry gates have been closed at Cubbon Park metro station, which is near Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Adding to the citywide frenzy, the Bengaluru Metro experienced unprecedented footfall. Trains on the Purple Line, especially at stations like SV Road, Indiranagar, Halasuru, and Trinity, were packed beyond capacity. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation had to issue frequent announcements urging passengers not to board overcrowded trains. One alert read: “Attention passengers: Please do not board the train. Train is overcrowded. Don’t delay the train. Stay away from doors.”
The metro congestion, coupled with blocked roads and diverted traffic in central Bengaluru, left commuters and emergency services struggling to navigate the area. Social media was flooded with visuals of fans mobbing metro stations and pouring onto surrounding streets, with some comparing the scenes to festival processions or political rallies.
While the RCB’s homecoming has undoubtedly ignited massive celebrations across the city, the incident highlighted the need for better crowd management and public coordination. Authorities are now facing criticism for underestimating the turnout and failing to implement adequate safety measures, especially after the decision to cancel the open-top bus parade earlier in the day.
Before the team arrived at the stadium, they were felicitated by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar at the Vidhan Soudha.
Calling the tragedy “criminal negligence”, the BJP blamed the Congress government in Karnataka and blood is on their hands.
