A deadly stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, killed 11 people and injured dozens more on June 4, 2025, as thousands gathered to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first Indian Premier League championship victory.
The incident occurred when an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 people congregated outside the stadium for a victory parade, more than double the number authorities had anticipated. Karnataka state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reported that 33 people were injured in addition to the fatalities, though other sources placed the injury count as high as 47.
The stampede began when crowds attempted to push through a small gate to join the festivities inside the stadium. Police officials indicated that the overwhelming number of people trying to force entry through limited access points created the dangerous conditions that led to the tragedy. The stadium has a capacity of only 35,000 people, making the crowd size completely unmanageable.
Siddaramaiah acknowledged that no one expected such massive crowds and expressed being deeply shocked by the tragic loss of lives. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar told reporters that the crowd was very uncontrollable, and authorities were unable to make proper arrangements for the unexpected turnout.
Video footage from the scene showed chaotic conditions as people climbed over barriers and walls attempting to gain access to the celebration. Some fans were seen scaling the stadium walls and climbing trees for better views of the team’s arrival. Police performed lathi charges, running at crowds with batons to disperse them, which contributed to additional panic.
Emergency responders struggled to reach victims due to the massive crowds and traffic congestion. Ambulances had difficulty navigating through the throngs of people to transport injured individuals to hospitals. Four people died at Vydehi Multispecialty Hospital, while three were pronounced dead on arrival at Bowring Hospital.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru team had provided free passes for the event through their website, but warned that numbers would be limited. The celebration was organized to honor the team’s victory over Punjab Kings in the T20 tournament final, ending an 18-year championship drought for the franchise.
Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Devajit Saikia described the incident as unfortunate and stated that organizers should have planned better. “This is a negative side of popularity,” Saikia noted, adding that people are passionate about their cricketers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident heartrending and expressed that his thoughts were with those who lost loved ones. The team released a statement indicating they were deeply anguished following the tragedy that occurred during what should have been a moment of celebration.
Despite the grave situation, large crowds continued to remain outside the stadium throughout the afternoon. A government-organized celebration for the team had been planned, but preparations for a parade route from Vidhana Soudha to the ground had been shelved earlier due to safety concerns.
This tragedy adds to India’s history of deadly crowd incidents, particularly at religious gatherings and major events. Earlier in 2025, at least 30 people died at the Maha Kumbh Hindu festival in January when tens of millions gathered for sacred rituals. Additionally, six people died in a temple stampede at Tirupati in January, and seven were killed at a temple in North Goa in May.
The Bengaluru metro stopped services near the stadium during the incident, though the ceremony continued inside despite the turmoil outside. Political opposition parties criticized the state government for gross mismanagement and called for the resignations of key ministers responsible for public safety.
