A devastating stampede occurred outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, as tens of thousands of fans gathered to celebrate Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) historic first Indian Premier League (IPL) title. The tragedy resulted in at least 11 deaths and more than 50 injuries, with most victims under the age of 40, including teenagers as young as 13.
Sequence of Events
RCB’s Victory and Celebrations: RCB defeated Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final, securing their first-ever IPL trophy in the league’s 18-year history. Grand celebrations and a victory parade were planned, with the team arriving in Bengaluru to be felicitated by state leaders at both the Vidhana Soudha and the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Massive Crowds: Over 2 lakh (200,000) people turned up near the stadium, far exceeding its 35,000 capacity. At the same time, another large crowd gathered at Vidhana Soudha for a separate felicitation, stretching police and security resources thin.
Chaos and Stampede: Fans began assembling outside the stadium from early afternoon, many hoping for free entry or passes. As word spread that entry would be first-come, first-served, and with little crowd control, panic set in. Security guards, overwhelmed and frightened, were forced to open the gates, and the crowd surged forward. Some fans attempted to scale gates and walls, while others were trampled in the crush.
Police Response: Police used mild force, including lathi-charges, to try to control the surging crowd, but were heavily outnumbered. Despite repeated appeals for order, the situation escalated rapidly.
Victims
- The deceased were all under 40 years old, with three teenagers among them. The youngest victim was 13. Most were students or young fans eager to witness the celebrations.
- Many more were hospitalized with injuries, and visuals from the scene showed ambulances and police rushing to assist those who had fainted or been trampled.
Causes and Contributing Factors
Overcrowding: The crowd outside the stadium swelled to between 1.5 and 3 lakh (150,000–300,000), vastly exceeding the venue’s capacity.
Poor Planning: The celebrations were reportedly hastily arranged, with confusion over entry procedures, distribution of passes, and lack of clear communication to the public.
Security Shortfall: With police also deployed at the Vidhana Soudha, there were not enough personnel to manage the stadium crowd. Security guards admitted they were scared and unable to control the numbers.
Uncontrolled Entry: Many fans believed they would be allowed in without tickets, leading to a rush at the gates when it became clear entry was limited.
Official Response
- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed deep shock, acknowledging that the tragedy overshadowed the joy of RCB’s victory. He announced a magistrate-level inquiry, compensation of ₹10 lakh for each victim’s family, and free treatment for the injured.
- The Karnataka High Court has taken up the case suo motu and is set to hear it for further investigation and accountability.
Eyewitness Accounts
Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with people fainting, climbing trees and walls, and a mound of shoes and personal belongings left behind.
Security guards said they were forced to let the crowd in as they felt overwhelmed and scared for their own safety.
Ongoing Actions
An official inquiry is underway, and the High Court is involved in assessing responsibility and future preventive measures.
The tragedy at Chinnaswamy Stadium stands as a stark reminder of the need for robust crowd management, clear communication, and adequate security planning during major public celebrations.
