Bengaluru, June 4 – What was supposed to be a day of celebration turned into a tragedy as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory parade ended in chaos, resulting in 11 confirmed deaths and multiple injuries.
RCB recently won their first-ever IPL title, and thousands of fans gathered near the M Chinnaswamy Stadium and Vidhana Soudha to cheer for their heroes. The team was to be felicitated by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, followed by a public celebration in the stadium. But miscommunication, last-minute planning, and a massive crowd led to a stampede-like situation.
⚠️ What Went Wrong?
- Until an hour before the event, there was no clear update about the arrangements.
- While RCB announced a victory parade on social media, Bengaluru Traffic Police contradicted it, saying there would be no parade.
- Rain, last-minute changes, and lack of crowd control added to the chaos.
- Overwhelmed by the crowd, police were seen trying to manage the situation with mild lathi charge and appeals for calm.
📸 Viral Videos Show the Madness
- Videos shared by ANI showed fans climbing walls of the stadium to get a glimpse of their favorite players.
- Police were seen making repeated announcements for cooperation, but the crowd kept growing.
- With heavy rain adding to the confusion, RCB left in closed buses instead of the planned open-top parade.
💔 11 Fans Lost Their Lives
- Deputy CM DK Shivakumar confirmed that six people died at Bowring Hospital.
- Four more deaths were reported at Vydehi Hospital.
- Total confirmed deaths: 11
- Many others were injured and are undergoing treatment.
🗣️ BCCI Secretary’s Response
Devajit Saikia, BCCI Secretary, expressed deep regret over the tragedy:
“This is the unfortunate side of popularity. When celebrating a victory of this scale, safety and planning are key. There were some serious lapses. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.”
He compared the incident to past celebrations like KKR’s victory in Kolkata and India’s T20 World Cup win in Mumbai, where crowd control was managed successfully.
📢 RCB’s Official Statement
“We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident. The safety of our fans is our top priority.
Upon hearing about the situation, we immediately changed our plans and followed the advice of the local authorities.
RCB mourns the loss of lives and sends heartfelt condolences to the affected families.”
🚨 Lessons to Learn
- Public safety must be prioritized during large-scale celebrations.
- Timely communication from official sources is critical.
- Local police and event organizers need to coordinate better in the future.
🙏 Final Words
While the IPL victory marked a historic moment for RCB and their fans, this heartbreaking incident is a reminder of the importance of proper planning and crowd control. RCB’s first-ever title win should have been a day of joy for all, but it ended with grief for many families.
Let’s hope that going forward, such incidents can be prevented, and celebrations remain just that—safe and joyful.
