A joyous celebration in Bengaluru turned tragic on Wednesday when a massive stampede during festivities for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Indian Premier League (IPL) victory left 11 people dead and dozens injured, officials confirmed.
Fans had poured into the streets of the southern tech hub to welcome home their cricket heroes after the team’s thrilling win over Punjab Kings in Tuesday night’s final. However, the sheer scale of the crowd quickly overwhelmed authorities, resulting in a deadly crush.
Karnataka state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described the incident as a devastating blow. “The stadium holds 35,000 people, but between 200,000 and 300,000 came to celebrate,” he said. Despite deploying the entire city police force, officials were unable to control the overwhelming crowds.
Most victims were young people, and 47 others sustained injuries during the chaos. Hospitals reported a steady influx of those hurt, including people who fainted or were trampled. One woman, unable to breathe, recounted how she fell unconscious in the crush.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the tragedy “absolutely heartrending,” while cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar expressed his sorrow, extending condolences to the victims’ families. Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who had attended the match, also voiced his condolences on social media.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru team expressed deep anguish over the incident, stressing that safety is a top priority. Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar described the situation as extremely challenging due to the immense crowd.
Authorities had anticipated potential difficulties and called off a planned victory parade. Nonetheless, the celebrations continued with the team’s arrival, though organisers shortened the programme after the stampede.
The tragedy casts a shadow over what should have been a historic sporting moment: RCB’s first IPL title in 18 years. Crowded celebrations and stampedes have been a recurring problem in India, with previous incidents at religious festivals and public gatherings causing significant casualties.
An official inquiry into the Bengaluru stampede has been ordered, with the government pledging support for the victims and their families.
