On June 4, 2025, a devastating stampede occurred outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL 2025 victory parade,
A tragic stampede occurred outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on June 4, 2025, during celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL 2025 victory parade, resulting in at least seven deaths and over 25 injuries.
The incident took place as thousands of fans gathered to celebrate RCB’s first IPL title win in 18 years, after defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in the final. The stampede reportedly happened at gates 3, 10, and 21 of the stadium, with fans rushing in when the gates were opened, leading to chaos. P
Police struggled to manage the crowd, resorting to a lathi charge, and ambulances faced delays due to heavy congestion. The injured and deceased were taken to Bowring Hospital and Vaidehi Hospital.
Witnesses reported chaotic scenes as fans, eager to see RCB players during the planned felicitation ceremony, pushed forward, leading to people being trampled. The police resorted to a lathi charge to control the crowd, which may have exacerbated the panic. Emergency response was hampered by severe traffic congestion around the stadium, delaying ambulances. The injured were rushed to Bowring Hospital and Vaidehi Hospital, with some reports indicating critical conditions among the survivors.
The victory parade, originally planned as an open-bus event from Vidhana Soudha to the stadium, was canceled due to security concerns raised by the Bengaluru City Police. Instead, a felicitation ceremony was held inside the stadium from 5 PM to 6 PM, restricted to ticket and pass holders. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar issued a public apology, describing the crowd as “uncontrollable” and citing insufficient security arrangements as a factor. He also mentioned that the state government had advised against the parade due to the anticipated crowd size, but the event proceeded with limited access.
No official statements from RCB or the IPL governing body were reported at the time, and investigations into the exact cause of the stampede and crowd management failures were underway. The incident has sparked discussions about the need for better crowd control measures at such high-profile events.