11 Dead in Stampede Outside Bengaluru Stadium During RCB Victory Parade

At least 11 people have died in a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, during a victory parade celebrating Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Indian Premier League (IPL) title win. The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday as tens of thousands of jubilant fans swarmed the streets to honor the home team following their triumph over Punjab Kings in the IPL final.

According to senior police officials, the stampede occurred at the gates of the stadium, which had not yet been opened to the public. Despite this, a massive crowd surged toward a small entrance point, leading to a fatal crush. "About 11 people have died in the stampede at the gates of the Chinnaswamy Stadium," one senior officer confirmed. The situation escalated as the crowd attempted to push through despite the gates remaining closed.

Authorities said they had expected around 100,000 fans but were overwhelmed when over 200,000 showed up. The massive turnout began early in the day as supporters from across Bengaluru made their way toward the parade route, donning RCB jerseys and waving team flags. The team had arrived earlier at the old HAL Airport, welcomed by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, before being taken in a grand procession to a hotel and then to Vidhana Soudha—the seat of the state legislature—where they were officially received by Governor Thawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and other top officials.

The procession was set to continue from Vidhana Soudha to the stadium for a final celebratory event when the stampede occurred. Leading up to the incident, fans packed every possible form of transportation to be part of the celebration. Metro trains were overcrowded, with many unable to board at all. Auto rickshaws and taxis refused to go near the stadium due to the congestion, often dropping passengers kilometers away.

As reports of fatalities emerged, panic spread. Crowds dispersed in a hurry, flooding nearby metro stations in search of a quick exit. Metro services around the stadium were eventually shut down by authorities as overwhelmed platforms posed further safety concerns.

The deadly incident has cast a shadow over what was supposed to be a historic and joyful day for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and their fans, who were celebrating the franchise’s first IPL title.