RCB’s homecoming turns horrific: Over 10 dead in Bengaluru stampede as celebration spirals into chaos

The joy of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s long-awaited IPL title win turned into horror on June 4 evening when a stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed ten lives and left several others injured. What was meant to be a celebration — a homecoming for heroes — ended with blood on the streets, broken barricades, and anguished cries.

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had organized a felicitation ceremony inside the stadium to honor the team’s maiden title victory. But as dusk fell over the city, the stadium’s surroundings swelled uncontrollably with thousands of euphoric fans, many without entry passes, all desperate to witness a moment they had waited 18 years for.

The situation rapidly spiraled out of control. Eyewitnesses described scenes of mounting panic: fans climbing fences, clinging to walls, and pushing past police cordons. With multiple entry gates becoming choke points, crowd pressure turned lethal. Police, struggling to hold back the surging masses, resorted to lathi-charges in a desperate attempt to disperse them.

The injured were rushed to Bowring Hospital, while emergency services found themselves trapped in the very chaos they were trying to contain. “People were falling over each other, gasping for breath,” said one local volunteer. “No one expected it to become this deadly.”

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed sorrow over the incident. “What was meant to be a celebration of RCB's IPL victory has turned into a tragedy,” he said. “My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. No joy is worth more than a life.”

The stampede wasn’t the only flashpoint. The city’s metro system buckled under an unprecedented crush of commuters. Purple Line stations like Indiranagar and Trinity saw fans spilling onto platforms and crowding carriages far beyond capacity. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation issued repeated warnings, including one grim announcement: “Do not board the train. Train is overcrowded. Don’t delay the train. Stay away from doors.”

Roads in the central business district were gridlocked. Traffic diversions, overwhelmed police units, and metro shutdowns created a cascading urban crisis. Social media was flooded with scenes that resembled festival processions or political rallies, not a post-match felicitation.

Many are now questioning how authorities could allow such a volatile situation to unfold — especially after they had earlier canceled an open-top bus parade citing “security concerns.” Critics argue that the planning fell drastically short, with little anticipation of the scale of RCB’s cult-like following and the emotional weight of the victory.

As Bengaluru mourns, the night stands as a stark reminder: victory celebrations must never come at the cost of lives. What was supposed to be the city's proudest sporting moment will now be remembered for a tragedy that should have been prevented.