At least ten people lost their lives and 50 others were injured following a stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, during a celebratory event marking Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) victory.

The stampede occurred near Gate 3 of the stadium, where thousands of fans had gathered to witness the team's open-bus victory parade.

The parade, which commenced from the Vidhan Soudha, was scheduled to culminate at the stadium with the players showcasing the IPL trophy.

According to The Hindu, the deceased were rushed to Bowring Hospital in Shivajinagar.

The Hindustan Times reported that the Bengaluru Metro experienced an unprecedented surge in ridership as fans thronged central Bengaluru for the event.

Local authorities reportedly struggled to manage the situation, with the city’s traffic police facing major challenges in regulating vehicular flow in the central business district due to the overwhelming crowds.

Before proceeding to the stadium, the RCB players were formally felicitated by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at the Vidhan Soudha, according to media reports.

Overcrowding and narrow access routes near the stadium contributed to the chaos, which escalated into a fatal crush.

Siddaramaiah acknowledged that the turnout—estimated between two to three lakh people—had far exceeded expectations.

“I have visited Bowring and Vaidehi hospitals. This tragedy, occurring during a celebration, saddens me. People have thronged in large numbers, exceeding our expectations. One lakh people gathered in front of Vidhana Soudha. The capacity of Chinnaswamy Stadium is 35,000, but about 2 to 3 lakh people gathered at the stadium,” he told reporters.

He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased and ordered a probe into the incident, directing that the inquiry report be submitted within 15 days.

“A majority of those who lost their lives today are young people, both men and women. The government announces Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia to the kin of the victims. Free treatment to be provided to those injured. Even those who have taken treatment at private hospitals. Including out-patients, a total of 47 people have been injured,” he said.

Deputy CM Shivakumar confirmed that plans for an open-bus parade were cancelled midway due to safety concerns.

“Due to over crowded metro stations, traffic congestion and the overwhelming public turnout, we decided not to continue with the event as originally scheduled … That’s why we avoided using the open vehicle for the players and wrapped up the program within ten to 15 minutes to ensure safety,” he said, as quoted by The Hindu.

In a statement issued late on Wednesday, RCB said it was “deeply anguished” by the tragedy and had “amended” its celebration plans in consultation with local authorities after learning of the incident.

The tragedy has sparked criticism from opposition leaders, including former Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal (Secular), who called it a result of “poor planning” and demanded accountability from the Congress-led state government.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, calling the mishap “heartrending.”

“The mishap in Bengaluru is absolutely heartrending. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that those who are injured have a speedy recovery,” PMO stated in a statement on X.

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi also shared his grief on X.

“In this hour of grief, I stand with the people of Bengaluru. The Karnataka government must provide all possible support and relief to the affected families,” he said.