Bengaluru, June 4, 2025:
In a tragic turn of events, 11 people lost their lives and 33 others were injured in a devastating stampede near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during the victory celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The incident occurred on Wednesday when an overwhelming crowd gathered to celebrate RCB’s historic IPL 2025 title win.
Reacting to the tragedy, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹10 lakh to the families of the deceased. Addressing a press briefing, he also assured free medical treatment for the injured.
“This is a deeply saddening incident. The government stands with the families of the victims. We will not engage in political blame games,” the Chief Minister stated.
“A magisterial inquiry has been ordered, and the report is expected within 15 days,” he added.
According to CM Siddaramaiah, the stadium’s capacity is 35,000, but an estimated 2 to 3 lakh people had gathered near the premises, leading to uncontrollable crowd pressure. The collapse of a temporary slab placed over a drain reportedly triggered panic and a subsequent stampede.
Heartfelt Condolences and Political Reactions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it “absolutely heartrending.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the PM wrote,
“In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also conveyed his condolences, stating:
“The joy of victory should never come at the cost of human lives. Authorities must urgently review and strengthen safety protocols to avoid such disasters in the future.”
Eyewitness Accounts Highlight Chaos
Eyewitnesses described the situation as “unmanageable and chaotic.” Fans complained of being stuck at entry gates and unable to leave due to extreme crowd density. One RCB fan told ANI:
“Even inside the stadium, seats were full. The gates were crowded, and many were injured in the chaos.”
Opposition Slams State Government Over Poor Crowd Management
Opposition parties have sharply criticised the Congress-led Karnataka government for what they termed as a “complete collapse of administration.”
JD(S) leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy wrote on X:
“The turnout was expected. Yet there was zero preparedness, no planning, no safety protocol. Who takes responsibility for this failure?”
Former Karnataka CM and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy also expressed shock and blamed the tragedy on poor planning.
“The government failed to take necessary precautions. Innocent lives were lost even before the celebrations could begin. The Congress government must take full responsibility.”
BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla went a step further, demanding the resignations of CM Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, and the State Home Minister.
“This government continued celebrations despite the deaths. That shows gross insensitivity and lack of accountability,” Poonawalla posted.
A Celebration Turned Tragic
The stampede followed RCB’s long-awaited triumph in the IPL 2025 Final, where the team defeated Punjab Kings by six wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. It marked their first-ever IPL title in 18 years.
