A tragic stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed the lives of three people and left several injured, even as the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team celebrated their IPL victory inside with music, lights, and fanfare.
The incident unfolded as lakhs of fans gathered near the stadium to catch a glimpse of their cricketing heroes and join the victory celebrations. Although special passes had been arranged for entry, the sheer volume of the crowd overwhelmed the arrangements.
Eyewitnesses reported that the number of police personnel was grossly inadequate for managing the sea of people. The situation worsened when the stadium gates were opened, leading to a sudden surge toward the entrance. In an attempt to control the situation, police resorted to a lathi-charge, which triggered panic and resulted in a deadly stampede.
Three people were trampled to death, and many others sustained injuries.
Despite the chaos and loss of life just outside, the scheduled celebration inside the stadium continued without interruption. The RCB team bus arrived at around 5:30 PM, making its way through dense crowds. By then, the tragic incident had already taken place.
While the RCB players, including Virat Kohli, were being felicitated at the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, news of the stampede broke. Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, upon learning of the situation, rushed to the scene to assess the crisis.
The decision to continue the event as planned, despite the fatalities, has drawn sharp criticism and raised serious questions about crowd management, public safety, and sensitivity to the unfolding tragedy.
