What began as a moment of unbridled celebration turned into a devastating tragedy on Wednesday, as at least 11 lives were lost in a stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL victory celebrations. Just a day after the team secured its historic maiden title by defeating Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad, thousands of fans gathered across Bengaluru to welcome their heroes home. The excitement quickly overwhelmed the city, leading to chaos outside both the Vidhana Soudha and Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s political secretary, Naseer Ahmed, addressed the incident, stating that the sheer scale of the crowd was unforeseen. “Nobody could have visualised it. Time was also very short — the match was only last night, and in a matter of hours, arrangements were made to the best of our abilities,” he said.

WATCH – RCB Victory Parade Turns Tragic: Stampede in Bengaluru Claims Around 11 Lives Amid Fan Frenzy

He further explained that delaying the celebrations wasn’t feasible, as several players had international commitments and were due to leave India that very night. “The players insisted on attending, and since RCB is a Bengaluru-based team, they wanted to show their gratitude to the fans before departing,” he added.

The tragic stampede claimed two lives outside the Vidhana Soudha, where the players were felicitated by the Chief Minister. Later, nine more people were killed near Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the team paraded the trophy and engaged with fans. Dozens more were injured and rushed to hospitals, including Bowring and Vydehi.

When NDTV questioned IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal about why the celebrations at the stadium continued despite the tragedy, he revealed that officials inside the venue were unaware of the events unfolding outside. “It’s incredibly sad. We did not know any parade being held. We weren’t informed of any official event today,” Arun Dhumal said, extending condolences to the grieving families.

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Dhumal clarified that from the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) standpoint, the IPL concluded with the final match. “We don’t know who called for the public celebration, or whether it was a spontaneous turnout by the fans. This will be investigated,” he added.

The heartbreaking incident has cast a shadow over what should have been a joyous homecoming for RCB, turning jubilation into mourning in a matter of hours.