What began as a historic moment of celebration for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) turned into a scene of unimaginable tragedy on June 4 as a massive crowd gathered in the heart of Bengaluru to honor the franchise’s first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title after 18 long years. Amid the jubilation, a deadly stampede-like situation outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium led to the loss of eleven lives and left several others injured — marking a dark day in the city’s cricketing history.
The emotional weight of the incident wasn’t lost on Indian cricket star and RCB Women’s Premier League (WPL) captain Smriti Mandhana, who addressed the tragedy with heartfelt concern. In a somber Instagram story, Mandhana wrote, “Heartbroken to hear about the lives lost in Bengaluru. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones. Please stay safe everyone 🙏”
Her words resonated with fans who were grappling with the painful reality that a moment of collective joy had turned into a nightmare for many.
As per official reports, the stampede occurred around the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where over 25,000 fans had gathered to celebrate RCB’s historic title win. The situation spiraled into chaos with the unmanageable swell of the crowd, leading to severe injuries and unfortunate fatalities. Emergency personnel, including police officers, were seen rushing unconscious and injured fans — some of them minors — to hospitals amid torrential rain and gridlocked traffic.
Multiple hospitals across Bengaluru, including Bowring Hospital and Lady Curzon Hospital, received emergency cases that ranged from exhaustion and trauma to dehydration, bruises, and even mild skull fractures. An administrative worker at one of the facilities confirmed that at least four unconscious individuals had been brought in from the nearby Cubbon Park Metro Station.
Eyewitnesses and family members of the victims described the event as “complete mismanagement” by the local authorities. There was visible miscommunication on the day of the event. On Tuesday night — just hours after RCB’s final win against Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad — news broke that a grand celebratory parade would take place in Bengaluru. However, clear directives were not consistently communicated to the public.
At around 9:45 am on June 4, RCB shared a vague schedule of the team’s route from the airport to the Chinnaswamy Stadium via Vidhana Soudha. By noon, Bengaluru traffic police contradicted that information, stating that there would be no parade or public event unless fans had passes. Even with repeated requests to avoid the Central Business District from 3 pm to 8 pm, thousands had already begun congregating near the venue as early as 10 am.
The scene at Kempegowda International Airport was chaotic by mid-morning. Eager fans had already gathered to welcome their heroes, prompting a last-minute change — the team was flown to the old HAL Airport instead, landing at 2 pm. They made their way to Vidhana Soudha by 4:55 pm, before finally arriving at the stadium by 5:45 pm. Unfortunately, by the time RCB’s players reached the stadium and lifted the trophy in front of the roaring crowd, the outside situation had spiraled out of control.
With traffic frozen and metro services halted temporarily on the Purple Line, authorities even suspended stops at key stations near the stadium to curb further crowding. In a desperate attempt to maintain order, stadium officials claimed mobile jammers had to be deployed.
The aftermath was immediate. The franchise, visibly shaken by the events, released a statement later that night, “We are deeply anguished by the unfortunate incidents that have come to light through media reports regarding public gatherings all over Bengaluru in anticipation of the team’s arrival this afternoon.
The safety and well-being of everyone is of utmost importance to us. RCB mourns the tragic loss of lives and extends our heartfelt condolences to the affected families. Immediately upon being made aware of the situation, we promptly amended our program and followed the guidance and advice of the local administration. We urge all our supporters to please stay safe.”
The planned victory lap was swiftly cancelled, and the celebrations inside the stadium were cut short.
This tragedy casts a shadow over what should have been a triumphant homecoming for the RCB squad. Smriti Mandhana’s message stands as a stark reminder that even in moments of great joy, safety must never be compromised. Her heartfelt appeal for caution and empathy echoes the sentiments of a grieving city — one that now mourns its lost fans alongside its victory.
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