NEW DELHI: What was supposed to be a jubilant occasion to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) first-ever IPL title turned into a tragedy on Wednesday. A deadly stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed at least 11 lives and left over 30 injured, with two in critical condition. The chaotic scenes have sparked political uproar, a magisterial inquiry, and a call for accountability.Here are the top developments from the scenes:Stampede claims 11 lives, 33 injuredThousands of RCB fans swarmed the stadium gates and surrounding areas in anticipation of the victory celebrations after RCB’s historic IPL 2025 win. The huge crowd overwhelmed police and security personnel, leading to a deadly stampede near the gates.According to police, eight people died immediately after being rushed to Bowring Hospital, while the death toll later rose to 11. At least 33 others were injured, with several admitted to ICUs.
Poll
Should there be stricter regulations on crowd sizes for public events?
Police overwhelmed despite heavy presence, mild force usedAuthorities had deployed a large police contingent, but controlling the massive crowd proved difficult. At Vidhana Soudha, where the felicitation program was held, Karnataka police resorted to mild cane-charge to disperse surging fans. Several people attempted to climb gates, trees, and fences to catch a glimpse of players.Karnataka deputy CM respondsDeputy chief minister DK Shivakumar told the media, “I have spoken to the Police Commissioner and everyone. I will also go to the hospital later. I do not want to disturb the doctors right now. The exact number [of casualties] cannot be told now. We appeal to the people to remain calm.”He added, “We shortened the program. It ended within 10 minutes. We are trying to make everything normal… lakhs of people came.”On BJP’s allegations of mishandling, Shivakumar said, “They are there to allege and we are there to protect… Yes, I am going to the hospital.”
Chief minister Siddaramaiah’s statement and relief announcementsKarnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah expressed deep sorrow and said, “This tragedy should not have happened. The government expresses deep sorrow. Most of the deceased are youth.”He announced Rs 10 lakh compensation for families of the deceased and free treatment for the injured.“I don’t want to defend this incident. Our government will not do politics on this. I have ordered a magisterial inquiry and given 15 days’ time. People even broke the gates of the stadium. There was a stampede. No one expected such a huge crowd. The stadium has a capacity of only 35,000 people, but 2-3 lakh people came,” Siddaramaiah said.In a social media post, the CM wrote, “The pain of this tragedy has even erased the joy of victory. May the souls of the deceased rest in peace, and may the injured recover soon. My condolences to the bereaved families. I appeal to the public to prioritise safety above everything else.”BJP targets Congress government over handlingBJP Karnataka president BY Vijayendra slammed the state government, alleging poor planning and lack of preparedness. “The state government should take full responsibility for this tragedy. When the whole country and Karnataka were celebrating RCB’s victory, the state government’s haste to hold a victory rally without preparations led to this. More than 11 people have died. There was no police inside, no ambulance facility. The CM should order a judicial investigation.”BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy called the incident a “clear security failure,” saying the government underestimated the crowd size and ignored necessary precautions.Opposition voices grief and urges accountabilityCongress leaders expressed their condolences and called for stronger safety protocols.Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said, “I am deeply saddened by the tragic stampede. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost loved ones, and I wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”Rahul Gandhi called the tragedy “heartbreaking” and said, “This tragedy is a painful reminder: no celebration is worth a human life. Every safety protocol for public events must be reviewed and strictly enforced — lives must always come first.”AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi termed the incident “very unfortunate and heartbreaking” and called for major preventive steps to avoid such tragedies.Union minister HD Kumaraswamy holds state government responsibleUnion minister HD Kumaraswamy said that the Congress government must take full responsibility, calling the tragedy a result of “lack of proper planning and complete failure to take precautionary measures.”Prime Minister Modi condoles the lossPrime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief in a social media post, saying, “The mishap in Bengaluru is absolutely heartrending. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that those who are injured have a speedy recovery.”Fans describe horror at the gatesFans trapped outside described a “nightmarish” experience. One fan said, “Inside, all the seats are full, and they’re not letting us go in. We want to go back, but we aren’t allowed to. The gates are crowded, and if they open them, more people will rush in. A lot of people have been injured already.”One fan trying to climb a gate to get in fell and broke his leg. Several others climbed trees and fences for a view of the players.Security and planning under fireBCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia criticized the lack of preparedness, saying, “When one organises a victory celebration of this magnitude… safety and security measures need to be taken.”The hastily arranged program sold tickets quickly but security failed to manage the crowds at gates 10, 12, and 13. Police eventually closed gates to prevent ticketless fans from entering, further escalating tensions.Government had earlier cancelled open victory paradeAnticipating large crowds, the Karnataka government had cancelled a victory roadshow citing security concerns. The stampede raises questions about the adequacy of the alternative arrangements.Political firestorm continuesBJP national spokespersons Shehzad Poonawalla and Pradeep Bhandari accused the Congress government of “state-sponsored negligence” and “criminal negligence,” demanding accountability from chief minister Siddaramaiah and home minister G Parameshwara.
