RCB Stampede Tragedy: The field outside the entrance gate of Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, where 11 people lost their lives during Royal Challengers Bangalore’s triumph celebrations after their Indian Premier League (IPL) victory after an 18-year wait, was littered with crushed possessions, sandals, and a line of shoes.

On Wednesday afternoon, tens of thousands of supporters gathered at Chinnaswamy Stadium to attend a felicitation ceremony for the RCB team, which led to the fatal stampede at the stadium’s gates.

5 Mistakes That Led to the Stampede:

1. Free Pass Announcement:

Problems began to surface early in the afternoon. By around 2:00 PM, people had started gathering outside several entrances of the stadium, according to victims and witnesses. Excitement peaked when the team bus finally arrived, prompting the crowd to surge forward. Many believed they could enter without tickets or would be allowed in for free. Once word spread that entry would be granted on a first-come, first-served basis, with no clear crowd control in place, panic quickly set in.

The stadium’s eastern gate, which eventually opened for entry, could only accommodate two people walking side by side. However, eyewitness footage and police reports show dozens of people forcing their way in at once. As makeshift metal barricades collapsed and no proper lines were enforced, the crowd crushed, trampled, and suffocated several individuals in the chaos.

2. Shortage of Police Force:

To safeguard the Vidhana Soudha complex, where the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and Governor were scheduled to meet the RCB team, the Bengaluru City Police redeployed a large portion of its force. Officials estimated that over one lakh people had gathered at Vidhana Soudha. Meanwhile, the stadium faced a staffing shortage, even as crowd estimates ranged from 1.5 lakh to 3 lakh. When the crowd at the stadium swelled beyond 3 lakh, the police struggled to control the situation effectively.

3. Confusion in Announcements

Despite early warnings against organizing a large-scale procession or allowing uncontrolled entry, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and team organizers went ahead with the event. Police had already marked the celebration as high-risk. Even though an earlier police notification had canceled the victory parade, RCB’s administration confirmed in a social media post at 3:14 p.m. that the parade would take place at 5 p.m.

As a result, fans flooded the venue, many traveling from across the city and nearby areas. Without clear instructions or effective gate management, fans without tickets began pushing their way in alongside those with valid access. Some tried to climb the gates, while others pressed tightly against the metal barricades. The chaos resulted in a deadly crush that killed at least 11 people, including several students and young adults.

Also Read: RCB Stampede & Allu Arjun Trends: Will Kohli Be Arrested?

4. Mismanagement from the Organizers:
The collapse of crowd management at the entry points between 3:30 and 4:30 pm was the primary cause of the stampede, according to the preliminary fact-finding report that Karnataka Director General and Inspector General of Police MA Saleem provided. A crucial roadblock fell as people raced ahead.

Others stomped victims who had fallen beneath the metal frames because they couldn’t see or stop them.

5. Last Minute Request:
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) wrote to the Karnataka government on June 3, 2025, asking for permission to host a morning felicitation celebration for the RCB team in front of the Vidhana Soudha.

The Karnataka government’s assertion that the event was organized at the “last minute” is explicitly refuted by this letter. This letter is set against the backdrop of claims that there was a “less” “gap” between the event and the triumph, which reportedly left the authorities with insufficient time to get ready for any sizable crowds.

Also Read: Can coffee slow aging? Scientists reveal 5 unexpected health benefits

Share

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•