The jubilant celebrations following Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title win in 2025 took a heartbreaking turn when a stampede occurred during their victory parade at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The incident claimed 11 lives and injured over 30 people, casting a shadow over what was meant to be a historic and joyous occasion for the team and their fans.
The Sequence of Events
RCB secured their maiden IPL title by defeating Punjab Kings in the final held on June 3, 2025, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The team, led by Virat Kohli, announced city-wide celebrations in Bengaluru the following day. Upon arrival in Bengaluru on June 4, plans were made for an open-bus parade and a felicitation ceremony at their home ground, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
However, the open-bus parade was cancelled by Bengaluru Traffic Police due to concerns about traffic congestion. Instead, a ceremony was scheduled to take place at the stadium at 5 PM. Despite this, a social media post by RCB’s official account announcing the victory parade and distribution of free entry passes led to a massive crowd gathering early near the stadium. Estimates suggest that between 200,000 to 300,000 fans assembled, far exceeding the stadium’s capacity of 35,000.
The Stampede and Its Causes
The stampede occurred near Gate 2 of the stadium as fans without passes tried to force their way in, creating chaos and panic. Police investigations pointed to confusion over the timing of the event and the distribution of free passes as key factors that led to overcrowding. Many fans attempted to climb over gates, resulting in injuries and fatalities.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed the tragic death toll and injuries, expressing deep sorrow and assuring that the government was closely monitoring the situation. The Karnataka High Court took suo moto cognizance of the incident, questioning whether proper Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were followed and if adequate safety guidelines were in place.
Aftermath and Accountability
The tragedy sparked widespread criticism and calls for accountability. The Bengaluru Police suspended five senior officers, including the Police Commissioner, for their handling of the event. Several arrests were made, including Nikhil Sosale, RCB’s Marketing Head, along with staff from the event management company responsible for organizing the celebrations. Investigations are ongoing, with scrutiny also falling on senior officials of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expressed concern and indicated plans to introduce guidelines to prevent such incidents in the future. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia emphasized the need for responsibility in managing public celebrations.
Criticism from Cricketing Figures
The incident drew sharp criticism from prominent cricket personalities. Gautam Gambhir, head coach of the Indian cricket team, questioned the necessity of holding a public roadshow at all, stating that the safety of lives should always come first. He suggested that celebrations should be held behind closed doors or within stadiums to avoid such tragedies.
Conclusion
The RCB victory parade tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the risks involved in large-scale public celebrations without adequate planning and crowd control. While the team’s historic IPL win was a moment of immense pride, the loss of lives has overshadowed the joy, prompting urgent calls for better safety measures and accountability in organizing such events in the future
