The Chinnaswamy stadium has a capacity of 35,000, but more than two to three lakh people came,” Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said at a press conference. Thousands of fans gathered outside the stadium hours ahead of a scheduled felicitation event organised by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite players. A celebration marking Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) first-ever Indian Premier League title turned tragic on Wednesday, when a stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium left 11 people dead and at least 33 others injured. The figure was confirmed by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Thousands of fans gathered outside the stadium hours ahead of a scheduled felicitation event organised by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite players. The crowd far exceeded expectations, swelling to over 2,00,000 people, as per Siddaramaiah. The stadium has a capacity of 35,000, but more than two to three lakh people came,” Siddaramaiah said at a press conference held at 7 30 PM. He announced a magisterial inquiry and compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased.
The stampede took place as crowds pushed toward the stadium gates, leading to chaos. Security personnel closed all gates to manage the surge and attempted to separate those with valid tickets from those without. As the situation worsened, police used mild force to disperse the crowd, reports PTI. The event, planned at short notice, saw tickets sell out quickly. However, by 3:30 PM, the crowd had swelled beyond expectations, overwhelming the available security. Gates 10, 12, and 13 were eventually shut in an attempt to prevent those without tickets from forcing their way in.
Additional crowds arrived around 4:30 PM via the nearby Cubbon Park Metro Station, adding to the pressure. Police attempted to manage the situation, using mild force in some areas. At Gate 10, the scene was especially chaotic, with women and children caught in the crush. Witnesses described people fainting and being trampled. Videos showed people collapsing and police shifting the injured persons and those who fell unconscious in ambulances to nearby hospitals. Visuals also showed some of those who were in an unconscious state being administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by those nearby.
The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, including Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital. Despite the massive tragedy, the felicitation ceremony continued inside the packed stadium, where RCB players, including star batter Virat Kohli, appeared briefly. The event concluded by 6:30 PM, but traffic congestion and crowding outside the stadium persisted for hours. Eyewitnesses described the panic. “We had tickets but weren’t even able to enter. Roads were blocked, gates were closed, and suddenly the police began using lathis,” said Prashant Shetty, a fan who had travelled with friends.
