*** Celebration Turns Fatal: RCB Fans Caught in Stampede, 11 Killed | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Celebration Turns Fatal: RCB Fans Caught in Stampede, 11 Killed

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

What began as a moment of celebration for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title turned tragic on Wednesday, as a stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed the lives of 11 people and left at least 50 others injured, according to local reports.

Thousands of fans had gathered in the city to celebrate RCB’s historic win over Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. The post-victory celebrations near the Chinnaswamy Stadium quickly turned chaotic when large crowds surged through multiple entry gates, overwhelming security arrangements and causing a deadly stampede.

Emergency services struggled to respond due to the scale of the crowd, with ambulances facing severe delays navigating packed roads. The injured were rushed to Lady Curzon and Bowring Hospital and Vydehi Hospital, while police on-site worked to control the gathering masses. One fan reportedly sustained a broken leg after falling while attempting to scale a gate to enter the stadium.

Despite a significant police presence, the crowd’s enthusiasm proved difficult to manage. Many attendees climbed trees and perched on branches to get a glimpse of the players. The incident has sparked concerns over crowd control measures at major public events.

The Karnataka government had earlier cancelled a planned victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium, citing security concerns. However, this decision did not deter large numbers of supporters from assembling near key city landmarks.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who welcomed the RCB squad upon their arrival at HAL Airport earlier in the day, had personally greeted star player Virat Kohli, presenting him with the RCB team flag and the Kannada flag. Shivakumar later waved the team flag from his vehicle en route to the airport, reflecting the festive mood that had gripped the city before tragedy struck.

As investigations continue, authorities are expected to assess security lapses and review protocols for large-scale public gatherings. The celeb

rations, meant to honour a long-awaited sporting triumph, have instead left the city mourning a preventable loss of life.