Bengaluru stampede: RCB’s Victory Parade Sparks Tragedy Despite Police Warnings, Franchise Pushed Forward

Bengaluru’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) faced a devastating outcome during their planned celebration of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 championship, as a stampede outside M.

Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed at least 11 lives. The city erupted in chaos following RCB’s historic victory, with fans flooding the streets to revel in the team’s first-ever IPL title. Despite warnings from Bengaluru police and traffic officials, who urged the franchise and state government to avoid holding a victory procession on Wednesday due to heightened emotions, RCB proceeded with their original plan, leading to catastrophic consequences.

According to a Deccan Herald report, authorities advised RCB and the Karnataka government as early as Tuesday night to postpone celebrations until the following Sunday, when fan fervor might have subsided. A senior police official, quoted in the report, emphasized the risks of a midweek event, recommending a controlled gathering at the stadium instead of an open bus parade from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy. However, the franchise argued that overseas players needed to depart soon for international commitments, a situation exacerbated by the IPL schedule’s delay due to the Indo-Pak conflict. This left little room for rescheduling, prompting RCB to move forward with the Wednesday event.

The decision proved fatal as fans began gathering around the stadium from early morning, creating unmanageable crowds. Social media alerts from police and traffic officials, urging organized behavior and discouraging the parade, went unheeded. The resulting stampede underscored the dangers of inadequate crowd control, turning a moment of triumph into tragedy for RCB and its supporters.