By Zainab Shafiq 
What should have been a jubilant night in Bengaluru turned into one of shock and sorrow, as fans die during RCB victory celebration outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru had just clinched their first-ever IPL title, and thousands had gathered in anticipation of the much-hyped victory parade. However, the mood quickly soured after a deadly stampede erupted among the crowd waiting outside.
Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos and panic, as people were trampled amid overcrowded barricades. The stampede has reportedly claimed at least 11 lives, with over 50 injured. Despite the horrifying turn of events, the planned celebration inside the stadium went ahead with thousands in attendance.
Stampede Overshadows Historic IPL Win as Fans Die During RCB Victory Celebration
RCB fans had been waiting 18 long seasons for this moment—the elusive IPL trophy finally belonged to Bengaluru. With Virat Kohli and captain Rajat Patidar leading the celebrations inside the stadium, energy levels soared. Yet, outside the arena, poor crowd control and lack of emergency preparedness exposed grave gaps in event planning.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who was present during the festivities, acknowledged the tragedy. He admitted that the crowd was “uncontrollable” and confirmed the event was cut short to prevent further escalation. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia also issued a statement, criticizing the organisers for not foreseeing the risks posed by such massive turnout.
Despite the cheer inside, many fans online have questioned the decision to continue the event in light of the fans die during RCB victory celebration tragedy. Several players, including Kohli, were seemingly unaware of the developments outside at the time of their addresses.
This disaster, now making headlines across the country, is likely to spark intense scrutiny over how such large-scale public events are managed. The open bus parade was ultimately cancelled due to the chaos, and calls for accountability have begun.
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