Politics is a game played on corpses. We are saying this because political parties seem to be more concerned about politics than the people killed in RCB’s victory parade.
The victory parade for The victory parade for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) following their maiden IPL title win in 2025 turned tragic when a stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru claimed 11 lives and injured 33 others. The incident occurred on June 4, 2025, as thousands of fans gathered to celebrate RCB’s historic victory over Punjab Kings.
Overwhelmed by an unexpectedly large crowd of 2-3 lakh people, far exceeding the stadium’s capacity of 35,000, the situation spiraled out of control when fans broke through a small gate, leading to chaos. Eyewitnesses reported people being trampled and others attempting CPR in desperation.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased, while RCB and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) offered ₹5 lakh per family as a gesture of support. A magisterial inquiry was ordered to investigate the lack of planning and crowd management, with criticism directed at the state government and organizers for failing to anticipate the turnout. Virat Kohli expressed being “at a loss for words” and “absolutely gutted,” while RCB and KSCA issued statements mourning the loss and urging fans to stay safe. The tragedy overshadowed what was meant to be a joyous celebration of RCB’s 18-year wait for the IPL trophy.
The stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL 2025 victory celebration near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, 2025, resulted in the tragic loss of 11 lives and injured 33 others.
Specific details about the victims are limited, but available information includes:
Deceased: All 11 victims were under 40 years old. Among them were a 13-year-old girl, a Class 9 student, and a 25-year-old woman. Six deaths were confirmed at Bowring Hospital in Shivajinagar, where five individuals, including the 13-year-old girl, were declared dead on arrival, and the 25-year-old woman died in casualty after gasping for breath. Four additional deaths were reported at Vydehi Multispecialty Hospital on Vittal Mallya Road. One source mentioned a child among the victims, though specific ages or identities were not fully disclosed.
Injured: Of the 33 injured, 18 were treated at Bowring Hospital, with injuries including fractures (ankle, spine, and neck), leg and abdominal injuries, and head injuries. Their conditions were reported as stable. Six individuals were admitted to the ICU at Vydehi Hospital, with three others also in ICU care. Some victims suffered from exhaustion, trauma, and ankle sprains due to the chaotic crowd surge. At least four fans were brought unconscious from the nearby Cubbon Park Metro Station.
No individual names of the victims have been publicly released in the available reports, likely out of respect for the families and ongoing investigations. The tragedy was attributed to overcrowding, with 2-3 lakh fans overwhelming the stadium’s 35,000 capacity, leading to chaos at the gates. The Karnataka government announced ₹10 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased, with RCB and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) offering an additional ₹5 lakh per family. The government also committed to providing free treatment for the injured.
Statement by the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Statement: “Deeply shocked by the tragic loss of lives in the stampede during the RCB victory celebrations near Chinnaswamy Stadium. A moment of joy has been eclipsed by sorrow. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”
He announced ₹10 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased and ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, stating, “We will take strict action against anyone found responsible for lapses.
He noted that the crowd of 2-3 lakh people far exceeded expectations, as the stadium’s capacity is only 35,000, and the stampede occurred when fans broke through a small gate.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s Statement: “The people who were supposed to be part of the celebration of RCB’s IPL victory have instead become victims of a tragedy, which is deeply saddening and shocking. My condolences to those who lost their lives. I offer my heartfelt sympathies to their families. Let there be passion, but nothing is more valuable than life. I sincerely urge everyone to stay safe.”
He apologized for the overcrowding, stating, “I apologise to the people of Karnataka and Bengaluru. We wanted to take a parade from Vidhana Soudha, but the crowd was very uncontrollable so we dropped that procession.” He added that the program was stopped within 5 minutes upon learning of the stampede.
Statement by the RCB & IPL governing body
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Statement: “We are deeply anguished by the unfortunate incidents that have come to light through media reports regarding public gatherings all over Bengaluru in anticipation of the team’s arrival this afternoon. The safety and well-being of everyone is of utmost importance to us. RCB mourns the tragic loss of lives and extend our heartfelt condolences to the affected families. Immediately upon being made aware of the situation, we promptly amended our program, and followed the guidance and advice of the local administration.”
RCB and Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Joint Statement: “RCB-KSCA expresses deep concern and heartfelt condolences regarding the unfortunate incident that occurred during the celebration organised by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium earlier today. We are profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of life and the injuries sustained by individuals during this event. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by this incident. We sincerely regret this tragedy and stand in solidarity with the bereaved families during this extremely difficult time. RCB-KSCA announces 5 lakh each to the families of those who have lost their loved ones. We hope this gesture can offer some support and solace in their time of grief. We want to emphasise that this compensation is not intended to determine or replace the value of human life, but rather to serve as a gesture of support and solidarity during such challenging times.”
Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council Statement (via Chairman Arun Dhumal): “What has happened is very unfortunate.” Dhumal noted that he had to contact the RCB franchise, as they were initially unaware of the events unfolding outside the venue, indicating a lack of prior information about the scale of the planned event.
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Statement (via Secretary Devajit Saikia): “It’s most unfortunate, organisers should have planned RCB’s IPL-winning celebrations better.” Saikia described the incident as an eye-opener for the board and IPL franchises, stating that the BCCI would soon decide on how to handle events expecting large crowds to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Statement by other political parties
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): The BJP sharply criticized the Congress-led Karnataka government, attributing the stampede to negligence and inadequate planning. Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra stated, “The state government should take full responsibility for this tragedy. When the whole country and Karnataka were celebrating RCB’s victory, the state government’s haste to hold a victory rally without any prior preparations led to this tragedy. They were more interested in publicity. This resulted in the death of more than 11 people. Some people are in ICU. There was no police inside, no ambulance facility.
” He demanded a judicial inquiry, comparing the event to Mumbai’s World Cup parade, which had no such incidents due to better planning. Vijayendra visited victims at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, highlighting the lack of ambulances and police arrangements inside the stadium.
Another BJP leader, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, remarked, “This tragedy happened because of the government. They had no idea about how many people would come, what precautions would have to be taken.” BJP leader Shanthikumar called it “shameful and unforgivable,” accusing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of prioritizing photo-ops over public safety. The BJP’s official Karnataka handle on X posted, “12 dead. Yet the show goes on. Congress proves once again that photo-ops matter more than lives of Kannadigas. Karnataka will not forget this. #ResignSidduDKS.”
Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)): Union Minister and former Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy expressed shock and urged accountability, stating, “It is extremely painful to see innocent lives lost even before the celebrations could begin. The primary reason for this massive tragedy is the lack of proper planning and complete failure to take precautionary measures.”
He called for emergency measures to ensure public safety and criticized the government for ignoring police advice against holding simultaneous events at Vidhana Soudha and Chinnaswamy Stadium. Kumaraswamy also cautioned against comparing the incident to the Maha Kumbh stampede, emphasizing the government’s failure in crowd management.
Indian National Congress (INC): The Congress party, while primarily represented by the state government’s statements, issued a response via its official handle on X, expressing grief: “We are saddened by the tragic loss of lives due to a stampede in Bengaluru during the celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 victory.
The loss of precious lives and the injuries sustained by many in this unfortunate incident are deeply distressing.” Congress leader and BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla defended the state government, arguing against politicization: “This can happen in any state and the ruling party should not be blamed for it. It should not be politicised. If this happens in a BJP-ruled state, we should not blame them. The crowd was huge, I spoke to the franchise, they also did not think that such a huge crowd would come and this incident happened suddenly.
”Other Political Figures: Prime Minister Narendra Modi (BJP) expressed condolences, calling the incident “absolutely heartrending” and praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Former Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai (BJP) demanded a high-level probe, stating, “The state government hastily organised a victory celebration event without proper planning, leading to a tragic stampede that claimed the lives of more than ten innocent people,” highlighting the government’s negligence.
Union Minister Prahlad Joshi (BJP) alleged that police were pressured by the Congress government to permit the event despite security concerns, accusing them of shifting blame to the Karnataka State Cricket Association.