Chinnaswamy Stadium Stampede Today: RCB’s victory was celebrated over the bodies of the dead

Chinnaswamy Stadium Stampede Today: Wednesday evening turned into a nightmare for Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans when a stampede outside the iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and injured 33 others. What was supposed to be a moment of sheer joy and celebration ended in tragedy. Thousands of cricket lovers had gathered to witness the grand felicitation ceremony for RCB’s historic IPL win, but the massive turnout overwhelmed the security arrangements, resulting in chaos and heartbreak.

The tragic incident unfolded just hours after the team’s arrival in Bengaluru. The Karnataka State Cricket Association planned a grand ceremony to honour the players, who had just secured their maiden IPL title triumph against Punjab Kings. Emotions were running high, the atmosphere electric — but the excitement soon spiraled into disorder as fans without tickets pushed against barriers, desperate to be part of the celebration.

Videos circulating online showed the grim aftermath — people carrying unconscious fans, bystanders performing CPR on the footpaths, and ambulances navigating through the crowd to reach the injured. Hospitals like Bowring and Lady Curzon and Vydehi Super Speciality quickly became emergency hubs, struggling to accommodate those caught in the crush.

The police, though present in considerable numbers, appeared woefully underprepared for the size and enthusiasm of the crowd. They resorted to mild lathi charge in an attempt to contain the surge but failed to prevent the disaster. Many eyewitnesses spoke of a complete breakdown in crowd control, and a lack of coordination between police and event organisers.

Despite the unfolding tragedy just beyond its gates, the felicitation ceremony inside the stadium carried on. Fireworks lit the sky, music blared, and speeches were made. RCB stars like Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar addressed the crowd, dedicating the trophy to the unwavering loyalty of their fans. Kohli’s words — praising the RCB faithful as the most passionate in the world — struck a bittersweet chord, considering the loss of life outside.

The blame game has already begun.Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the crowd became “uncontrollable,” forcing officials to call off the victory parade. Earlier, Bengaluru Police had warned about traffic congestion and advised fans to use public transport, but these precautions failed to prevent the chaos.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia expressed shock and disappointment, emphasizing that the organizers should have planned the event more responsibly.Political rivals too, especially the BJP, have started criticizing the Congress-led state government for what they call a “complete failure of law and order.”

This tragedy mirrors last year’s jubilant scenes in Mumbai during the T20 World Cup victory celebration — but with one stark difference: authorities in Mumbai managed the crowd. In contrast, Bengaluru’s celebration spiraled into sorrow.

Rain clouds loomed over the city, and emergency sirens drowned out the cheers. What should have marked Bengaluru’s proudest cricketing moment instead left the city in mourning.Amid applause, heartbreak, and chaos, one truth remains: no celebration is worth the cost of a life.