What began as a city-wide celebration of cricket glory quickly descended into chaos and heartbreak, as a stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory parade left 11 people dead and over 50 injured. The devastating incident has sent shockwaves through Karnataka and the entire nation, prompting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to take swift disciplinary action and announce a high-level judicial inquiry.
The tragedy unfolded early on June 4, 2025, as tens of thousands of fans gathered in central Bengaluru to catch a glimpse of their heroes celebrating their historic Indian Premier League (IPL) title win. With inadequate crowd control mechanisms, blocked access routes, and poor planning, the situation spiraled out of control near Gate No. 7 of the stadium.
According to eyewitnesses, people began pushing forward after rumors spread that players were about to arrive. “There were no announcements, no police to guide the crowd, and suddenly people were falling,” said Raghu Sharma, an RCB fan who managed to escape the stampede with minor injuries.
CM Siddaramaiah, addressing the press within hours of the incident, confirmed that Bengaluru’s Police Commissioner B. Dayanand, Additional Commissioner Vikash Kumar Vikash, and DCP Shekhar H. Tekkannavar were suspended immediately. The Chief Minister stated that the preliminary reports revealed gross negligence in planning, lack of contingency measures, and failure to regulate the crowd.
In a rare move, the state also ordered the arrest of event organizers, including members of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s operations team, and DNA Entertainment Networks—the company contracted to manage the logistics. These arrests come under charges of criminal negligence and failure to comply with safety regulations mandated for large public gatherings.
Justice Michael Cunha, retired from the Karnataka High Court, has been appointed to lead a one-member commission that will investigate the incident in depth. “We are determined to uncover the truth and hold every responsible party accountable,” Siddaramaiah affirmed.
The state government also announced ₹10 lakh in ex gratia compensation for the families of those who lost their lives and assured that all injured individuals would receive free and full medical treatment in government hospitals.
Meanwhile, political reactions have been swift and critical. BJP leaders accused the Congress-led state government of turning a blind eye to basic safety precautions. Former CM Basavaraj Bommai stated, “This is not just mismanagement, this is gross criminal neglect. The government must own up.”
Urban safety experts have also highlighted glaring lapses. Dr. Kavita Rao, an expert in crowd management, pointed out that “No real-time monitoring systems were in place. There was no coordination between civic agencies, police, and the event organizers. This kind of failure is unacceptable in 2025.”
Local business owners in the MG Road and Cubbon Park area said they were neither informed nor prepared for the influx of thousands. “If we had known, we could have helped. There were people crying for help in front of our shops,” said Suresh Naidu, who owns a café opposite the stadium.
The stampede has also raised uncomfortable questions for RCB as a franchise. While the team’s management released a statement expressing condolences and promising support, critics have asked why the team pushed for such a public event without formal crowd control and law enforcement cooperation.
“It was irresponsible to host a mass celebration in the heart of the city without ensuring safety. This is not how a professional team should operate,” said sports journalist Priya Nair.
Public anger has been growing, with many citizens taking to social media and the streets demanding systemic changes. On Thursday morning, protestors gathered at Freedom Park holding signs reading “Lives Over Celebrations” and “No More Negligence.”
The CID is expected to file interim findings within 10 days. Meanwhile, the Justice Cunha-led commission will have 30 days to submit a comprehensive report.
As funeral processions begin and families mourn their lost loved ones, Bengaluru’s pride has been replaced by grief and rage. What should have been a day of unity and joy for the city has become a solemn reminder of the cost of negligence.