6/5/2025, 5:27:39 PM | By ElipShop
On June 5, 2025, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) achieved a monumental milestone by clinching their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title, ending an 18-year wait. The victory sparked jubilant celebrations among fans across the city. However, the euphoria quickly turned to despair when a massive crowd gathered near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for the team's homecoming celebration, leading to a tragic stampede that claimed at least 11 lives and injured over 30 individuals.
The Karnataka government had organized a felicitation ceremony for the team at Vidhana Soudha, followed by a victory parade to the stadium. Free event passes were distributed online, but the overwhelming turnout, estimated between 200,000 to 300,000 people, far exceeded the stadium's capacity of 35,000. As fans without tickets attempted to force entry, chaos ensued, resulting in the deadly stampede.
In the aftermath, RCB expressed profound grief over the incident. Star player Virat Kohli stated he was "absolutely gutted" by the tragedy. The franchise announced financial support of ₹10 lakh to each of the deceased's families and established the "RCB Cares" fund to aid the 47 injured fans . The Karnataka government also pledged to cover all medical expenses for the injured.
Prominent figures from the cricketing world, including Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, and Kapil Dev, extended their condolences. Kapil Dev emphasized that "lives are more important than celebration," urging better safety measures for future events.
The incident sparked political controversy, with opposition parties BJP and JD(S) blaming the Congress-led Karnataka government for inadequate planning and crowd management. They demanded a judicial inquiry into the tragedy. An FIR was filed against RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and DNA Entertainment Networks for alleged criminal negligence.
This tragedy underscores the critical need for meticulous planning and crowd control during large-scale public events. As Bengaluru mourns the loss of its citizens, the incident serves as a somber reminder that public safety must remain paramount, even amidst celebrations of historic achievements.
