Bengaluru: A tragic stampede outside Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday claimed the lives of at least 11 people and left 47 others injured, as fans gathered to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru's historic Indian Premier League (IPL) title victory.
Thousands of jubilant supporters had assembled around the stadium to catch a glimpse of the winning team’s arrival, many waving the team’s red flags and climbing trees and walls for a better view. The celebration marked the franchise’s first IPL title in the league’s 18-year history.
However, the festive mood quickly turned chaotic. According to police, trouble began when fans without passes tried to force their way through the stadium gates. Tensions escalated further between the outer perimeter and the main event area, resulting in a deadly crowd surge. Visuals from the scene showed people trampling over one another as panic spread.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed deep sorrow over the incident. “It is tragic that such an incident occurred during a time of celebration. We underestimated the size of the crowd,” he said.
Eyewitness reported that police began using canes to control the crowd, which only fueled the confusion and panic. Several people could be seen receiving CPR on the pavement, while others were rushed into ambulances.
Naseer Ahmed, political secretary to the Chief Minister, admitted that crowd control measures had failed. "The turnout overwhelmed our preparations," he told reporters.
The Royal Challengers had distributed free passes online with a note cautioning fans about limited availability. However, that did little to control the massive turnout. Adding to the chaos, metro services near the venue were suspended as the victory event continued inside the stadium.
While India has a history of deadly crowd-related tragedies—many at religious gatherings—this marks one of the most severe accidents linked to a sporting celebration. Earlier this year, over 30 people lost their lives at the Maha Kumbh Mela due to overcrowding.
The Royal Challengers' title win against Punjab Kings had sparked widespread celebrations across Bengaluru, but the tragic turn of events has left the city in mourning.
