RCB victory parade turns tragic as over 11 fans die in stampede

Bengaluru, (HS) : The victory celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans turned tragic as more than 11 people including a woman and a boy died in a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Wednesday afternoon. More than 50 people are said to be injured and there are fears that the toll could increase. The fans had thronged the stadium ahead of a victory parade for the RCB team that won IPL 2025. Even the victory celebration broadcast continued with no mention of stampede.

Three, who were shifted to Bowring Hospital, were declared dead on arrival, while four others died at Vydehi Multispecialty Hospital on Vittal Mallya Road. It is learnt that the stampede occurred when hundreds tried to enter the stadium through a gate near Cubbon Park. Following the tragedy, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has rushed to Bowring Hospital. Some of the injured were administered CPR by other fans. Police had a tough time in shifting the victims to hospitals as there was a traffic gridlock around the stadium. Several were shifted in police vehicles, ambulances and even in private vehicles. Relatives of the deceased were found crying outside the Bowring Hospital. The police also had to resort to a lathi charge when fans started swarming inside the stadium. Fans even tried to scale the stadium’s compound wall. One man broke his leg after he fell down while attempting to climb he wall. Sources at Bowring Hospital said dozens of people were brought there with injuries and they were unable to keep count of the injured. Many injured were also taken to Vydehi and other hospitals close to the stadium. It is also said that a few fainted at Vidhana Soudha, where the RCB players were felicitated by the state government. The felicitation programme was cut  short as rains played spoilsport. The team had touched base at the Garden City on Wednesday afternoon amid a roaring and chaotic welcome from fans, who lined up the streets and thronged the stadium to catch a glimpse of the team’s stars, including the talismanic Virat Kohli.

The Rajat Patidar-led squad was received by state’s Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar at the airport before proceeding towards the Vidhana Soudha for a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. “Virat Kohli, from past 18 years, has given his youth, his experience, his love, and his heart (to RCB) and made our state proud. I stand here with the heartfelt support of all the youngsters of our state,” Shivakumar said. En route to Siddaramaiah’s office, fans assembled on both sides of the road cheering the triumphant squad with gusto.

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