The moments of celebration for the people of Bengaluru quickly turned into a nightmare when a stampede broke out during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Despite earlier preparations for crowd management, confusion and poor coordination led to the de*th of 11 people and left more than 30 injured.
One of the major causes behind the tragedy was the combination of overcrowding, free passes and limited seating inside the stadium. Although the stadium can accommodate 35,000 people, an estimated 2 to 3 lakh fans showed up, far exceeding the capacity of the venue. According to police sources, the situation was made worse by few social media posts announcing free passes and building hype around the event, which triggered a massive turnout.
Authorities had reportedly advised postponing the celebrations but this suggestion was not taken seriously. Some sources indicated that the final decision to go ahead with the event may have been influenced by political considerations, leaving police with minimal time to prepare adequately.
The stampede reportedly began when large numbers of fans without entry passes tried to push through the gates alongside those with valid tickets. Witnesses described how people rushed toward the entrance in large groups, pushing forward despite the narrow gates. The force of the crowd caused some to fall, leading to panic and eventually the deadly stampede. Many of the victims were young people, including students.
Adding to the confusion was inconsistent communication about the event itself. On the morning of the tragedy, Bengaluru Traffic Police announced that there would be no victory parade, only a felicitation function at the stadium. But a few hours later, the RCB management posted an update confirming a parade would indeed be held at 5PM, urging fans to follow safety guidelines. This contradiction left many unsure about the event’s actual format, causing even more people to gather outside in hopes of witnessing the parade or getting inside.
Despite warnings that only fans with valid tickets would be allowed entry, thousands still showed up and some even forced their way in. A police officer noted that many tried to enter alongside others with free passes, resulting in pushing and crowding near the gates. At one point, around 50,000 people were crammed into the area surrounding the stadium and the numbers kept growing.
The Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his shock, confirming the de*ths and injuries. He explained that no one had anticipated such a huge turnout. He acknowledged that the gates were small and overwhelmed by the crowd, some of whom even broke through them, and emphasised that a proper inquiry would uncover the full story behind the mishandling.
What was supposed to be a moment of pride and celebration for Bengaluru has now turned into a tragic reminder of the consequences of poor planning and miscommunication in managing large-scale public events.
