Celebrations Turn Tragic: A Timeline of the Bengaluru Stampede That Claimed 11 Lives

On June 4, 2025, Bengaluru was poised to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title. However, the jubilant atmosphere quickly turned somber as a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium resulted in 11 fatalities and numerous injuries. Here's a chronological account of the events leading up to the tragedy: 

2:00 PM:

Fans began assembling outside the stadium, eager to partake in the victory celebrations. 

3:00 PM:

The crowd swelled significantly, with estimates suggesting attendance far exceeded the stadium's capacity. 

4:00 PM:

Organizers announced that entry to the celebration would be free, inadvertently encouraging more fans to converge on the venue. 

5:00 PM:

As the RCB team arrived, excitement peaked. However, inadequate crowd control measures led to chaos at the entry points. 

5:30 PM:

A surge at one of the gates caused a stampede, trapping many individuals. Emergency services struggled to navigate through the dense crowd to reach the injured. 

6:00 p.m

Initial reports confirmed multiple casualties. The celebration inside the stadium was halted as news of the incident spread. 

Aftermath:

Casualties: 11 people lost their lives, and over 30 sustained injuries.  

Victims: The deceased included teenagers, students, and young professionals who had come to celebrate their team's victory.  

Reactions: RCB expressed profound grief over the incident. Star player Virat Kohli stated he was "absolutely gutted" by the tragedy.  

Assistance: RCB announced financial aid of ₹10 lakh for each victim's family and established the "RCB Cares" fund to support the injured.  

Investigation: Authorities launched a magisterial inquiry to determine the causes and lapses that led to the disaster.  

This tragic event underscores the critical importance of meticulous planning and crowd management during large-scale public gatherings. As investigations continue, the focus remains on ensuring accountability and preventing such incidents in the future.