Eleven dead, dozens injured as IPL celebrations descend into chaos; questions swirl over organisers’ decisions
What should have been a night of euphoria for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans spiraled into catastrophe. Hours after the team lifted their maiden IPL trophy, a stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium left 11 people dead and 33 injured. The celebration turned into mourning in a matter of minutes.
Inside the stadium, the mood was festive—glowing red lights, fireworks, fans singing anthems, players on stage thanking supporters. But outside, chaos was building. And when it erupted, it was unforgiving.
Was the Celebration Too Soon?
The turnaround was lightning-fast. RCB clinched the trophy less than 18 hours before the event. Yet a full-blown celebration was already underway the next day in central Bengaluru.
Former cricketer Madan Lal didn’t hold back.
“This was avoidable,” he told media bluntly. “RCB made a big mistake in rushing the event.”
And many are echoing his sentiment. Fans, journalists, even city officials are asking: Why the hurry?
Just one day wasn’t enough to prepare crowd control for a gathering of over 60,000 in and around a stadium that officially holds less than half that number.
The Scene Outside Chinnaswamy
Witnesses described the crush like a wave—once it started, it couldn’t be stopped.
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Entry gates were opened late
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Barricades collapsed under pressure
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People panicked as loudspeakers failed to communicate instructions
For 23-year-old Shruthi, the joy of RCB’s historic win evaporated in seconds. “One minute we were chanting, the next, we were screaming,” she said, still trembling, hours after escaping the crowd.
The lack of medical infrastructure outside the stadium worsened the outcome. Ambulances couldn’t reach the site quickly. Bystanders used scooters to ferry injured fans to nearby hospitals.
Inside, Celebrations Carried On—But Not for Long
While fans were struggling for breath outside, inside the stadium the mood was starkly different—for a time.
Virat Kohli took the mic. “This one’s for every RCB fan who waited with us,” he said, as cheers echoed through the stands.
Rajat Patidar followed. So did a light show. And then the news came.
By the time RCB officials learned of the stampede, 9 were already confirmed dead. The program was cut short—but for many, too late.
The damage was done.
Anger Grows Over Lack of Coordination
Critics say the city and RCB management failed to anticipate the scale of crowd turnout. And more crucially, failed to plan for it.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Raghavendra H. admitted “there were lapses,” including miscommunication and poor perimeter control.
The event was greenlit less than 12 hours after the win. Police claimed they were informed late and were forced to deploy forces from other zones.
Here’s a quick look at the crowd control plan vs. the reality:
| Aspect | Planned/Expected | Actual Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Expected Crowd | 30,000 | Over 60,000 |
| Medical Posts | 6 | 3 functional |
| Barricade Units | 500 | Fewer than 300 deployed |
| Entry Gates Functional | 5 | 2 opened late |
Not a single senior RCB official has taken public responsibility yet. The silence hasn’t helped.
Should the Event Have Happened at All?
That’s the biggest question now.
Madan Lal’s statement was harsh, but not isolated. Former cricketer and broadcaster Aakash Chopra said, “Victory deserves celebration, but not at the cost of lives.”
Bengaluru-based activist Meena Shetty called it “a failure of priorities.”
“There’s no excuse to put lives at risk for a PR stunt,” she said. “This was a show, not a tribute.”
RCB, for their part, issued a statement: “We are deeply saddened and are working with authorities to support the affected families.” But the timing and size of the celebration remain under a harsh spotlight.
RCB’s Long-Awaited Title Now Has a Dark Shadow
The IPL 2025 trophy win was monumental for RCB. After years of heartbreak, they finally reached the mountaintop.
Yet that moment now feels hollow for many fans.
One supporter, S. Balaji, summed it up bitterly:
“I waited 17 years for this title. I didn’t think it would come wrapped in tragedy.”
For the families of the 11 who died, there is no joy left in the title. Just grief, and questions. And a growing feeling that all of this—the victory parade, the haste, the oversight—should’ve been handled better.
