The joy of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally lifting their maiden IPL title turned into a harrowing tragedy as a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru claimed the lives of 11 people and injured many more. The unfortunate incident, which took place during what was meant to be a celebratory event for fans and players alike, has now sparked statewide outrage and led to the suspension of top-ranking police officials, including Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda.
On the evening of RCB’s victory parade, over two lakh fans gathered outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium — a venue that holds barely 35,000 people. With excitement in the air and anticipation running high, crowd control rapidly deteriorated. What began as a moment of celebration soon spiralled into chaos, with a deadly stampede breaking out within minutes.
The crowd, packed beyond capacity, surged uncontrollably, resulting in a catastrophic loss of life. In the aftermath, the Karnataka government acted swiftly. Apart from suspending key officials, four individuals, including RCB’s Head of Marketing and Revenue, were arrested. According to high-level police sources, prior warnings were issued against holding the event on such short notice.
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They claimed the police force had urged RCB to delay the celebrations to ensure adequate security arrangements. However, these warnings reportedly fell on deaf ears. A senior officer, speaking to Times Now, revealed that political pressure played a significant role in pushing the event forward.
“RCB chairman is the main guy responsible for the fiasco. Even the Home Minister agreed it was unsafe. But we were overruled. There was no time to plan,” the official lamented.
🚨 POLICE EXPOSING RCB 🚨
RCB put political pressure on Bengaluru Police for granting the permission for victory parade. pic.twitter.com/NTKQHi2gqR
— ` (@WorshipDhoni) June 6, 2025
The police, already overburdened with overnight duties, were left with no breathing space to prepare. Only 3,000 personnel — the standard for match-day deployment — were assigned, woefully inadequate for managing a crowd of over 200,000. Routine protocols such as mock drills, safety checks, and crowd-flow management were bypassed due to time constraints.
“Till 4 AM, our entire force was occupied. By the time the event started, there wasn’t even time for a basic security rehearsal. Had we been given just a day or two, this tragedy could have been avoided,” the officer added.
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Reacting to the public outcry and institutional failure, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered arrests of senior executives from RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and DNA Entertainment Networks, who jointly organised the celebration.
While the team’s on-field triumph was historic, the off-field mismanagement has left an irreversible scar on the city and its cricket-loving public. What should have been a night of triumph and unity will now be remembered as a grim reminder of how celebration without caution can lead to catastrophe.
