Bengaluru: What was meant to be a joyful homecoming for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after their historic Indian Premier League (IPL) win, turned into a nightmare on Wednesday, June 4.
Crowds in the hundreds of thousands flooded the streets of Bengaluru and gathered around the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, hoping to celebrate with their team. But the poorly managed event, marked by last-minute decisions and massive miscalculations, led to a deadly stampede that reportedly claimed at least 11 lives and injured over 40 others.
Here's a detailed timeline of how the day unfolded:
Morning to Early Afternoon:
The victorious RCB squad landed in Bengaluru and made their way to the Vidhana Soudha to meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Crowds began assembling early across the city, especially outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the main celebration was to be held.
2:00 PM: Thousands of fans had already gathered outside the stadium, many queuing up at the 13 entry gates, hours ahead of the planned felicitation.
3:00 PM: The roads around the stadium became heavily congested as the crowds swelled further. Police presence was significant but overwhelmed by the sheer volume of attendees. Originally, access to the stadium was controlled through passes, but a late announcement declared open entry for all fans, leading to confusion and chaos.
3:30 PM to 5:00 PM: The official victory parade, scheduled to start around 3:30 PM from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium, further intensified the rush. The stadium gates became choke points as people surged forward to secure a spot inside. Barricades were unable to hold the pressure and eventually gave way. In the scramble, people were trampled, resulting in a horrific stampede. Footwear and belongings littered the ground as survivors attempted to carry the injured to safety.
5:00 PM: News began trickling out about the scale of the disaster. Initial reports spoke of three deaths, but the number rapidly climbed. As of now, 11 people have been confirmed dead, and 47 others are being treated for injuries. Disturbingly, the on-field celebrations inside the stadium continued for some time before the extent of the tragedy became clear.
Here's What Authorities Said
According to a report submitted to the Karnataka government by the Director General and Inspector General of Police, the stampede was caused by an "unexpected gathering of thousands of fans" trying to enter the stadium between 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM. The report stated, “All possible security arrangements were made… however, due to the unexpected gathering of thousands of fans… a barricade was broken, and people fell on each other, resulting in a stampede.”
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his sorrow, admitting that the government did not anticipate such a massive turnout. “The crowd turnout exceeded all expectations... The stadium has a seating capacity of 35,000, but an estimated two to three lakh people turned up. The pain of this tragedy has also erased the joy of victory," he said.
A compensation of Rs 10 lakh has been announced for each of the deceased’s families, and medical care for the injured will be fully covered by the state.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, echoing similar sentiments, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "We are heartbroken by this tragic incident… We did not anticipate such an overwhelming crowd. While the stadium holds 35,000, over 3 lakh people had gathered.”
"Your pain is ours. We stand with our people – in this sorrow," he added.
An investigation into the stampede has been ordered and a report is expected within 15 days.
