A celebratory event turned tragic on Tuesday evening as a stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium resulted in the deaths of ten individuals and left several others injured. The incident occurred during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory parade, organized to honor the team’s maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title win.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had arranged a special felicitation ceremony inside the stadium for the RCB squad. However, the sheer volume of fans who turned up—many without entry passes—created a volatile situation. Eyewitnesses reported fans scaling stadium walls and fences in desperation, trying to make their way inside to see the players.
Speaking to reporters, DK Shivakumar said, “I have no information about the deaths as of now. I was busy with the felicitation ceremony. There was an uncontrollable crowd throughout the way. I apologise to the people of Karnataka that a procession was cancelled due to massive crowds.”
Police personnel on the ground repeatedly appealed to the crowd to maintain order and disperse, warning against unlawful entry and unsafe behaviour. Despite the warnings, the crowd grew more restless, and at several points, law enforcement had to resort to a mild lathi-charge to manage the situation. Local media outlets reported a few minor injuries amid the crush, though no serious casualties were confirmed as of Tuesday evening.
Adding to the citywide frenzy, the Bengaluru Metro also experienced unprecedented footfall. Trains on the Purple Line, especially at stations like SV Road, Indiranagar, Halasuru, and Trinity, were packed beyond capacity. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation had to issue frequent announcements urging passengers not to board overcrowded trains. One alert read: “Attention passengers: Please do not board the train. Train is overcrowded. Don’t delay the train. Stay away from doors.”