June 5, 2025: What was meant to be a day of joy and celebration for cricket fans turned into a nightmare when a stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed the lives of 11 people. The chaos unfolded as thousands gathered to welcome the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team following their historic first IPL title win.
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The jubilant celebrations, which included a ceremony at the stadium and a felicitation by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at Vidhana Soudha, drew massive crowds. Police struggled to control the throng of supporters eager to see their heroes, leading to a tragic loss of life.
Adding to the public’s distress, RCB faced severe criticism for a now-deleted social media post that featured a video of fans greeting the team, captioned, “This welcome is what pure love looks like.” Many viewed the post as insensitive given the unfolding tragedy, prompting RCB to quickly remove it.
In response, RCB issued a heartfelt statement expressing deep sorrow over the incident. “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,” the statement read.
RCB extended condolences to the families affected by the tragedy and confirmed that they had amended their celebration plans following guidance from local authorities. “We urge all our supporters to please stay safe,” the team added.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar shed light on the challenges faced by law enforcement, stating, “Crowd was uncontrollable, police was finding it difficult, so we had to stop procession.” A planned open-bus parade had already been denied permission to avoid such risks.
As Bengaluru mourns the loss of its citizens, the incident serves as a sobering reminder of the need for strict crowd control and safety measures, especially during large public events.
The RCB IPL victory will forever be bittersweet — a triumph marred by a tragic human cost.