Celebrations for Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) maiden IPL title ended in tragedy on Wednesday after a stampede at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium killed 11 people and left 47 injured, including women.
Anticipation vs. Preparedness
While RCB star Virat Kohli had predicted “unreal” celebrations following Tuesday’s win, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah admitted that the government and police failed to anticipate the massive turnout.
The stadium, which holds 35,000, saw crowds swell to an estimated 2–3 lakh people, with nearly one lakh gathered near Vidhana Soudha. “We anticipated only a few thousand more than capacity,” Siddaramaiah said, acknowledging the lack of preparation.
Supporters who thronged the venue said they expected huge crowds but were shocked by inadequate arrangements.
- Mahesh Somanna, a fan, said: “The turnout wasn’t surprising. What shocked me was the poor preparations. Police were outnumbered, and crowd control was nothing like New Year’s Eve measures.”
- A woman with a stadium pass said security was chaotic: “Despite having a pass, I had to fight my way in. Inside, there was no visible protection for women. It was completely haphazard.”
A senior police officer, speaking anonymously, revealed that city police had recommended holding the celebration later in the week, citing intelligence warnings of unprecedented crowds. However, the advice was reportedly overruled by a senior politician.
RCB’s title victory ended an 18-year wait, making the event historic for fans. Bengaluru had previously hosted a major IPL victory celebration only once before, when RCB Women won the WPL trophy in 2024. Cricketer Mayank Agarwal had said ahead of the event that Bengaluru’s affection for Kohli was “beyond gauge” – a sentiment tragically underscored by Wednesday’s events.
The state government now faces scrutiny over crowd mismanagement and ignored warnings. For RCB and its millions of fans, what should have been a moment of unbridled joy has instead become a somber reminder of the need for safer public celebrations.
