What started as a celebration turned tragic on Wednesday when 11 people lost their lives in a stampede at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 victory party. Just like the night before, when the team’s win in Ahmedabad sparked a street party, thousands flocked to Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday. The crowd grew so large that the police struggled to manage the situation. They tried to break up the crowd with mild force, but it didn’t help much. Many people pushed against the stadium gates, eager to get in.
The scenes before the tragedy were reminiscent of the celebration for the T20 World Cup-winning Indian team in Mumbai last July. But while that event was a joyful gathering, things went terribly wrong in Bengaluru.
Sachin Tendulkar expressed his sorrow about the incident, stating, What happened at Chinnaswamy Stadium is beyond tragic. My heart goes out to every affected family. Wishing peace and strength to all.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru also released a statement, saying they were deeply saddened by the unfortunate incidents reported regarding the public gatherings. They emphasized that everyone’s safety is their top priority and expressed condolences to the families affected. They quickly adjusted their plans and followed local authorities’ advice, urging supporters to stay safe.
The BCCI found the situation shocking and mentioned that organizers should have been better prepared. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said, “It’s really unfortunate. Organizers should have planned RCB’s celebrations with proper precautions and security.”