11 Dead in Stampede Outside Bengaluru Stadium During RCB IPL Victory Celebrations

A tragic stampede outside Vidhana Soudha during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 victory celebration has claimed 11 lives and left several others injured on Wednesday, casting a shadow over what was meant to be a historic celebration for the franchise’s maiden title.

The Karnataka government’s grand felicitation ceremony for RCB’s long-awaited IPL triumph after an 18-year wait drew overwhelming crowds, leading to deadly chaos at the entry gates before the ceremony could even begin.

The stampede occurred as thousands of frenzied fans thronged the premises to catch a glimpse of their cricketing heroes, resulting in overcrowding and dangerous jostling at the entry points.

Two men and one woman have been confirmed dead in the incident, with several others sustaining injuries in the melee.

Visuals from the scene showed injured fans being rushed for immediate medical support as emergency responders worked to manage the crisis.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar acknowledged the deaths but refrained from providing specific details about casualty numbers.

“I can’t confirm the numbers yet. I’m going to the stadium, now. Lot of emotional fans.. we had deployed 5,000 personnel,” Shivakumar told India Today TV, referring to the security arrangements made for the event.

The Deputy CM’s statement highlighted the challenge of managing the massive crowd despite deploying significant security personnel.

As the crowd swelled outside the stadium ahead of the public celebrations, police were seen using mild force in attempts to control the surging fans.

Despite the deployment of 5,000 security personnel, authorities struggled to manage the unprecedented crowd size drawn by RCB’s historic victory.

The excitement and euphoria surrounding the team’s first-ever IPL title win contributed to the uncontrollable crowd behavior.

In response to the massive crowds, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) suspended services at two key stations.

Metro services at Cubbon Park and Dr BR Ambedkar Vidhana Soudha stations were halted from 4:30 pm onwards until further notice as a precautionary measure.

The suspension was implemented to prevent further crowd buildup and ensure public safety in the area.

The tragedy occurred during what should have become a landmark celebration for RCB and their fans, marking the franchise’s maiden IPL title after 18 years of waiting.

The long-awaited victory had generated unprecedented excitement among the team’s loyal fanbase, contributing to the massive turnout that ultimately led to the deadly incident.

Authorities are expected to launch a comprehensive investigation into the crowd management failures that led to the stampede.

Questions are likely to be raised about the adequacy of security arrangements and crowd control measures despite the deployment of 5,000 personnel.

The incident highlights the challenges of managing large-scale public events, particularly those involving highly emotional sports celebrations.

Emergency response protocols and evacuation procedures will likely come under scrutiny as officials work to prevent similar tragedies in the future.