What was meant to be a jubilant celebration for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and their fans quickly turned into a scene of heartbreak and chaos in the city of Bengaluru. A day after RCB clinched their first-ever IPL title in a thrilling final against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, a victory parade held outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium spiraled into tragedy.
The gathering drew an unexpectedly massive turnout, with an estimated crowd between two to three lakh people attempting to participate in celebrations meant for a stadium that seats only 35,000. The combination of free passes, inadequate crowd control measures and limited infrastructure led to a stampede that left at least 11 de*d and over 30 injured. What was supposed to mark a triumphant moment after an 18-year wait for the title ended in confusion, panic and devastating loss.
India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the incident during a press conference held ahead of the upcoming Test series against England. Sharing the stage with the new Indian captain Shubman Gill, Gambhir refrained from assigning direct blame but criticised the decision to hold such large-scale public celebrations without adequate planning.
He reflected on his own career, saying he never supported the idea of roadshows and still doesn’t. According to Gautam Gambhir, while victories deserve to be celebrated, the safety and lives of people must always come first. He added that if authorities cannot handle such large crowds responsibly, such parades have no place in public spaces.
The tragedy has drawn scrutiny not only from the cricketing figures and public but also from the legal system. An FIR has now been filed in connection with the incident, holding those responsible for organising the event under investigation.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru responded to the tragedy with a statement mourning the lives lost and offering their condolences to the families of the victims. The franchise also announced the creation of a support fund titled RCB Cares, aimed at helping those injured in the stampede. As part of their immediate relief efforts, the team pledged a compensation of INR 10 lakh to each of the 11 bereaved families.
Despite this gesture, criticism continues to mount as questions about accountability, crowd control and administrative failure dominate public discourse. What should have been a moment of long-awaited celebration for RCB and its loyal fanbase instead became a sobering reminder of the consequences of unpreparedness and misplaced priorities.
