Bengaluru, June 4, 2025: At least 11 people were killed and dozens injured in a stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, during celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title win.
The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday as an overwhelming crowd gathered outside the stadium, far exceeding its 35,000-seat capacity. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed the casualty toll and attributed the chaos to an unanticipated surge in the number of attendees.
“No one expected such a huge crowd,” Siddaramaiah said. “The stadium has a capacity of only 35,000 people, but between 200,000 and 300,000 people came.”
According to officials, at least 33 others sustained injuries and were rushed to local hospitals for treatment. Local television networks showed distressing footage of police and emergency responders carrying unconscious individuals and the wounded into ambulances.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also spoke to reporters, stating that the crowd became “uncontrollable” despite efforts to maintain order.
The event was organized to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s historic win in the IPL—India’s most celebrated Twenty20 cricket tournament—on Tuesday. The franchise had long been without a title, and the victory sparked massive celebrations across the city and beyond.
Stampedes are unfortunately not uncommon in India, particularly during large public gatherings. Earlier this year, at least 30 people lost their lives in a similar incident during the Maha Kumbh festival, where tens of thousands of devotees rushed to bathe in the Ganges River.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the latest tragedy to determine security lapses and crowd management failures.
