Pass frenzy, conflicting announcements: What led to the deadly stampede in Bengaluru ?
PTC News Desk: It did not take any long to turn the victory celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru into a tragedy for the residents of Karnataka who were marred by stampede that claimed 11 lives leaving several injured.
The deadly stampede broke out at the gate of the Chinnaswamy Stadium occured on Wednesday afternoon when tens of thousands converged at the gate to witness the felicitation ceremony of Royal Challengers Bengaluru following their maiden victory in Indian Premier League after a long wait of 18 years.
What Led To The Stampede
Free pass frenzy
The eyewitnesses have recounted the moments before what led to the tragedy. As the team bus drove along the passage leading towards stadium, a wave of movement was triggered in the crowd with a hunch that they might be fortunate enough to enter the stadium without ticket or receive free passes. Soon that assumption turned into panic after announcement was made that entry would be strictly allowed on a first-come, first-served basis, without clear controls.
Police Force Split
A large portion of the Bengaluru City Police force was redeployed to secure the Vidhana Soudha complex, where the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and Governor were scheduled to meet the RCB team.
Contradicting announcements
The management team of RCB had posted on social media about the victory parade in contradiction with the police notification which had cancelled it.
"Victory Parade will be followed by celebrations at the Chinnaswamy stadium. We request all fans to follow guidelines set by police and other authorities so that everyone can enjoy the roadshow peacefully. Free passes (limited entry) available on shop.royalchallengers.com," it said in a post on 'X'.
Not a Last-Minute Request
A letter dated June 3, 2025, from the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to the Karnataka government sought approval to hold a felicitation ceremony for the RCB team in front of the Vidhana Soudha in the morning.
This correspondence directly challenges the Karnataka government’s assertion that the event was arranged at the "last minute." The letter surfaces amid claims that the short interval between the team’s victory and the proposed celebration left insufficient time for the authorities to make necessary arrangements for managing large crowds.
- With inputs from agencies
