GG News Bureau
Bengaluru, 4th June: What began as a day of jubilant celebration for Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans ended in heartbreak, as a stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives during the team’s IPL victory procession.
Crowds in the lakhs had gathered to cheer their heroes, with many following the team from the airport to Vidhana Soudha, where players were scheduled to meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. But the festivities turned chaotic when crowd control failed and panic set in.
Among the dead were fans who had waited for hours in the heat, hoping to glimpse their favourite cricketers. Survivors described scenes of desperation — people gasping for breath, others crushed in the surge, and cries for help drowned in the crowd noise.
In the aftermath, Karnataka BJP President Vijayendra Yediyurappa held the Congress government responsible for the tragedy. “More than 11 lives are lost. Was it not the state’s responsibility to be prepared? This isn’t the first time we’ve had such massive crowds,” he said, adding that the government was “more interested in publicity than in protecting people.”
He also criticised the handling of the situation at Vidhana Soudha, where the crowd’s frustration reportedly led to stone-pelting near the stage, putting even the players at risk. “The celebrations should have been stopped the moment the tragedy struck,” Yediyurappa said.
Responding to the incident, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he was “deeply shocked.” Speaking to reporters, he admitted the crowd size — estimated between two to three lakhs — had far exceeded expectations. “We assumed only around 35,000, the stadium’s capacity, would attend. We did not foresee such an overwhelming turnout,” he said.
The CM announced a ₹10 lakh ex gratia for each of the victims’ families and assured free medical treatment for the injured. “The pain of this tragedy has erased the joy of victory,” he posted on X.
IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal said the BCCI was not aware of the Bengaluru event as official celebrations had concluded in Ahmedabad. “It’s tragic. The RCB management assured us they’d wind up celebrations quickly. Those inside had no idea what was happening outside,” he said.
As the city mourns, questions loom large over the lack of planning, crowd mismanagement, and delayed response — leaving families shattered and a festive moment forever scarred.
