Bengaluru: A celebratory event for Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title turned tragic when a stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium resulted in at least 11 fatalities and numerous injuries. Thousands of fans had gathered to honour the team, but overcrowding and inadequate crowd control led to chaos and loss of life.

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IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal expressed sorrow over the incident and stated that officials inside the stadium were unaware of the situation unfolding outside.

He questioned the planning of the event, noting that the IPL celebrations had concluded in Ahmedabad the previous day.

"We had no knowledge of a victory parade—I don't know who organised it, how it was planned and how it went through. But very sad indeed," he said.

Event details and government response

The stampede occurred as fans attempted to enter the stadium for the team's felicitation ceremony. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had organised the event, which included a procession from the airport to the Vidhana Soudha, where the team met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar acknowledged the challenges in managing the large crowd, stating, "We arranged more than 5,000 personnel. This is a young vibrant crowd; we can't use lathi on them."

Officials have launched an investigation into the incident, focusing on crowd management and safety protocols.