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Friday, Jun 06, 2025
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Fatal Crowd Surge at IPL Celebration in Bengaluru
At least 11 fatalities reported as fans gather to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru's inaugural IPL title.
At least 11 individuals lost their lives and 47 others sustained injuries in a crowd surge outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, during celebrations for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's first Indian Premier League (IPL) title.
This incident occurred as thousands of fans lined the streets to welcome their team following a victory over the Punjab Kings in the T20 tournament's final match, part of the 18th edition of the IPL, renowned as the world's richest cricket league.
Visuals captured during the event show fans waving the team’s red flag, climbing trees and stadium walls in a bid to secure a better view of the team's arrival in a bus on Wednesday evening.
However, the celebratory atmosphere quickly turned chaotic as some individuals without official passes attempted to breach gated entrances, resulting in conflicts between the outer perimeter and the main arena.
Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed the fatalities and injuries at a press briefing, expressing sorrow over the incident.
"At a time of celebration, this unfortunate event should not have happened.
We are saddened by this.
The fans that showed up were beyond our expectations," he stated.
Witnesses reported scenes of panic, including a police officer escorting an injured spectator to an ambulance and various individuals receiving CPR amid the turmoil.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that police utilized batons to control the crowd at one entrance, exacerbating the situation.
Mithun Singh, a software engineer caught in the crowd, described the chaos that ensued as efforts to manage the crowd became increasingly ineffective.
Naseer Ahmed, a political secretary to the chief minister, noted that the gathering became unmanageable and indicated that proper arrangements were insufficient for the scale of the crowd.
Although the team provided free entry passes, they also cautioned fans about the limited capacity available for the event.
In response to the incident, Bengaluru metro services were halted near the stadium, where the celebratory ceremony proceeded despite the surrounding chaos.
India has a history of crowd-related accidents, often at large religious events, underscoring ongoing concerns about crowd management and safety protocols during public gatherings.
This incident occurred as thousands of fans lined the streets to welcome their team following a victory over the Punjab Kings in the T20 tournament's final match, part of the 18th edition of the IPL, renowned as the world's richest cricket league.
Visuals captured during the event show fans waving the team’s red flag, climbing trees and stadium walls in a bid to secure a better view of the team's arrival in a bus on Wednesday evening.
However, the celebratory atmosphere quickly turned chaotic as some individuals without official passes attempted to breach gated entrances, resulting in conflicts between the outer perimeter and the main arena.
Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed the fatalities and injuries at a press briefing, expressing sorrow over the incident.
"At a time of celebration, this unfortunate event should not have happened.
We are saddened by this.
The fans that showed up were beyond our expectations," he stated.
Witnesses reported scenes of panic, including a police officer escorting an injured spectator to an ambulance and various individuals receiving CPR amid the turmoil.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that police utilized batons to control the crowd at one entrance, exacerbating the situation.
Mithun Singh, a software engineer caught in the crowd, described the chaos that ensued as efforts to manage the crowd became increasingly ineffective.
Naseer Ahmed, a political secretary to the chief minister, noted that the gathering became unmanageable and indicated that proper arrangements were insufficient for the scale of the crowd.
Although the team provided free entry passes, they also cautioned fans about the limited capacity available for the event.
In response to the incident, Bengaluru metro services were halted near the stadium, where the celebratory ceremony proceeded despite the surrounding chaos.
India has a history of crowd-related accidents, often at large religious events, underscoring ongoing concerns about crowd management and safety protocols during public gatherings.
