GG News Bureau
Bengaluru, 5th June: The euphoria surrounding Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) historic IPL triumph was marred by tragedy on Wednesday evening after a stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium led to the death of 11 fans and left several others injured. What began as jubilant celebrations for the franchise’s first Indian Premier League title in 18 years has now spiralled into a blame game between the government, RCB management, and cricket authorities.
Initial government statements claimed the felicitation event was planned at the last minute, leading to gross underestimation of the turnout. However, a letter dated June 3, accessed by NDTV, contradicts this claim. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had reportedly sought permission in advance to host a victory event at the steps of Vidhana Soudha in case of an RCB win. The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) had forwarded this request to the police, who, according to sources, were not in favour of such a gathering at the government complex.
Despite police suggestions to postpone the felicitation to Sunday, the RCB management opted for a Wednesday celebration, arguing that many overseas players would have left India by the weekend and missed the event. “Their argument was that the players, especially the foreigners, would leave today or tomorrow,” said a senior police official.
The situation spiralled out of control as massive crowds gathered outside the stadium after the entry was made free. Narrow entry points choked as thousands surged forward in hopes of witnessing the ceremony. The stampede that followed left 11 dead and dozens injured, turning celebrations into horror.
RCB, in an official statement, mourned the loss of lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families. The franchise said it had adjusted its programme based on inputs from local authorities and followed all official guidance.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered an inquiry into the stampede, while Deputy CM DK Shivakumar issued an apology, saying all possible efforts had been made to keep the event brief and under control.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL have distanced themselves from the tragedy. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia pointed to organisational lapses and criticised the hasty planning. IPL chairman Arun Dhumal clarified that BCCI’s role had concluded with the official IPL events on Tuesday night, adding that further celebrations were left to individual franchises.
As political leaders, cricket officials, and the RCB management trade explanations, questions loom over crowd control, accountability, and whether this tragedy could have been averted through better coordination and foresight.
