RCB’s Victory Celebration Turned Into Deadly Stampede

RCB Victory Celebration: What was meant to be a joyous moment for cricket fans quickly turned tragic on Wednesday near Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium. Eleven people lost their lives and 33 others were injured in a stampede triggered by confusion, mismanagement, and sheer overcrowding.

The chaos began to unfold as thousands of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans gathered to celebrate the team’s recent IPL win. The stadium, which can seat around 35,000 spectators, saw an unexpected crowd of nearly 2-3 lakh people in its vicinity. According to police officials, many people without tickets attempted to enter the premises alongside those with valid entries, causing mayhem at the gates.

In the rush, several fans attempted to scale the gates. Some fell, others were trampled, and panic spread rapidly through the crowd. Small entry gates and limited seating arrangements only made the situation worse.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed the death toll, stating that most of the victims were young men and women, many of them students. He acknowledged that the scale of the crowd was grossly underestimated. “Nobody had expected so much of a crowd to come. They have broken the gates. A stampede has taken place,” he told reporters, adding that an official inquiry will reveal the exact details.

What further complicated the situation was the conflicting communication about the event. At 11:56 am, Bengaluru Traffic Police announced there would be no victory parade, only a felicitation function at the stadium. However, at 3:14 pm, RCB’s official social media handle announced a victory parade at 5 pm, leading to widespread confusion among fans.

While police tried to maintain order, thousands who had arrived early began surging towards the stadium gates. Fans without passes tried to squeeze in with those who had tickets, causing heavy pushing and jostling at entry points. Police personnel were seen using mild force and lathis to disperse the increasingly agitated crowd.

Despite authorities’ insistence that only those with tickets would be allowed inside, a huge number of people gathered around the stadium, hoping to witness the celebrations. Police sources said that around 50,000 people were packed into the one-kilometre radius around the stadium, with more arriving by the minute.

The Bengaluru Metro later halted stops at nearby Cubbon Park and Dr B R Ambedkar stations to control the overwhelming footfall.

As grief envelops the city, questions loom over how such a large-scale public event could be so poorly managed. Both the Karnataka government and cricket authorities face growing criticism for their lack of coordination and preparedness. What should have been a moment of triumph for the RCB faithful has now become a haunting memory for the entire city.