Bengaluru Stampede: 11 Die in RCB Victory Event; CM Announces Ex-Gratia

New Delhi: Eleven people died while over 47 others were injured in a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday (June 4), Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said.

He also announced Rs 10 lakh as ex-gratia to the kin of the victims as well as a probe into the incident, which he said has been given a 15-day deadline to submit a report.

“A majority of those who lost their lives today are young people, both men and women. The government announces Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia to the kin of the victims. Free treatment to be provided to those injured. Even those who have taken treatment at private hospitals. Including out-patients, a total of 47 people have been injured,” he said, addressing the press outside Vidhana Soudha, which houses the state legislature.

The stampede broke out during a victory parade outside the stadium, held to celebrate the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)’s win in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday.

According to The Hindu, the Bowring Hospital close to the stadium confirmed six deaths, while officials at the Vydehi Hospital said that four people were brought dead. One more person passed away the Manipal Hospital, the paper added.

Siddaramaiah said that while the stadium can seat 35,000 people, “two to three lakh” people arrived there to partake in celebrations. “We had not anticipated such a large crowd. The expectation was for a crowd within the stadium’s capacity.”

“Such a tragedy should not have happened during a celebration. We deeply regret this incident,” the chief minister also said.

Fans had gathered near Gate 3 of the stadium, where the winning team was expected to arrive with the IPL trophy as part of its open-bus parade beginning from Vidhana Soudha, where they were felicitated by Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

Overcrowding and narrow passageways contributed to the rush, reported The Hindu.

It also noted that the state traffic police was struggling to ensure the smooth movement of vehicles in the central business district area due to large crowds. The Bengaluru Metro too saw an unprecedented footfall of passengers, according to the Hindustan Times.

Shivakumar had earlier said that “even though the police … made efforts to manage the people thronging the stadium, it has been difficult.”

Reports also stated that the initially planned open-bus parade to welcome the team to Bengaluru was cancelled due to massive traffic congestion.

Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar also said that they had cancelled the use of an open vehicle. “Due to over crowded metro stations, traffic congestion and the overwhelming public turnout, we decided not to continue with the event as originally scheduled … That’s why we avoided using the open vehicle for the players and wrapped up the program within ten to 15 minutes to ensure safety,” he said, as quoted by The Hindu.

RCB, which said late on Wednesday it was “deeply anguished” by the incident, added that it “amended” its program and “followed the guidance and advice of the local administration” upon being made aware of what had happened.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders are raising questions over mismanagement. “The primary reason for this massive tragedy is the lack of proper planning and complete failure to take precautionary measures. The state government, led by @INCKarnataka, must take full responsibility for this disaster,” said former chief minister of Karnataka, H.D. Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal (Secular).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the incident on X. “The mishap in Bengaluru is absolutely heartrending. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that those who are injured have a speedy recovery,” his office quoted him as saying.

Lok Sabha leader of opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also expressed his condolences. “In this hour of grief, I stand with the people of Bengaluru. The Karnataka government must provide all possible support and relief to the affected families,” he said on X.

He continued: “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.”

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