Unprecedented Crowds, Chaos Over Free Passes Led To Bengaluru Stampede - Top Updates
RCB’s first IPL win celebration turned tragic as a stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium left 11 dead and 47 injured, caused by miscommunication, overcrowding, and chaos over free passes.
What was meant to be a historic moment for RCB and its fans after an 18-year wait ended in tragedy. The atmosphere was electric as fans flooded the streets, eager to celebrate the long-awaited victory with their team. However, the day that was supposed to mark the pinnacle of joy for RCB turned into a black chapter in the franchise’s history—one that neither the crowd nor the team management could have anticipated.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, celebrations for Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) maiden IPL title win turned into a tragic stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, claiming the lives of 11 people and injuring over 47 others.
The tragedy unfolded due to a lethal combination of misinformation, underestimation of crowd turnout, and poor crowd control. According to eyewitnesses and officials, the chaos began after confusion erupted regarding whether or not a victory parade would take place and how free passes for the stadium event were to be distributed.
The Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed the casualties, saying: "11 people died and 33 were injured following the stampede near the stadium." He added that most of the deceased were young men and women, including students, and that compensation of ₹10 lakh would be given to their families. “Instructions have been given to provide free treatment for the injured,” he said.
A Perfect Storm of Miscommunication
While the Bengaluru Traffic Police at 11:56 a.m. clarified that only a felicitation function would be held at the stadium and not a victory parade, the RCB management reignited hopes by announcing on social media at 3:14 p.m. that a victory parade would indeed take place at 5 p.m., followed by celebrations at the stadium.
"Victory Parade will be followed by celebrations at the Chinnaswamy stadium. We request all fans to follow guidelines set by police and other authorities so that everyone can enjoy the roadshow peacefully. Free passes (limited entry) available on shop.royalchallengers.com," said a post on X. This conflicting information left thousands of RCB fans in limbo. With unclear directions, and eager to be part of the historic moment, more than 2-3 lakh people thronged the streets of central Bengaluru—vastly overshooting the stadium’s 35,000-person capacity.
"The match happened last evening (Tuesday) and today this event was organised by the cricket association, so no one had expected that so many people would come," said Siddaramaiah. "The expectation was the equivalent number of people for the stadium's capacity or slightly more than that may gather."
Chaos at Gate No. 7
The situation turned deadly when Gate No. 7, which offers a clear view of the main entrance, became the epicentre of the crush after rumours spread that free tickets were being distributed there. "People completely lost control. It was a disaster," said Achimanya from Rajajinagar. Sudden rain around 5:30 p.m. only worsened the situation.
The stampede erupted around 4 p.m., when Gate No. 3 was partially opened, prompting a mix of ticket-holders and hopeful onlookers to rush in. “Everyone just flooded in. In the chaos, some people fell on the ground. There was nobody to control the crowd or offer help,” said Inayath, a resident of Lingarajapuram. “Immediately, we formed a human chain around those who were on the ground so that they could get up. A woman was given CPR and wheeled into an ambulance,” added Mahesh, another eyewitness.
A police officer noted, “Around 50,000 people were within a 1-kilometre radius and the number just kept increasing.”
Cracks in Planning and Coordination
The tragedy was not just a result of miscommunication—it pointed to systemic failures in planning and coordination. Despite police clearly stating that no parade would be held, RCB's management continued to promote one on social media from as early as 7 a.m. that day.
This led the police to make contradictory announcements. While the traffic police ruled out the parade by noon, by 3 p.m. they issued diversions "in case it happens", suggesting pressure from political and event management quarters. The victory parade was officially cancelled only after the stampede had already claimed lives.
Adding to the mixed signals, the Karnataka government itself participated in a felicitation event on the steps of the Vidhana Soudha, attended by the Chief Minister and Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot.
"There are small gates. The people entered through the gates. They have broken the gates also, so a stampede has taken place," said Siddaramaiah. "Nobody had expected so much of a crowd to come. Prima facie looks like that... The inquiry will bring out facts."
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