What should have been a joyful homecoming for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru after their first-ever IPL title win ended in heartbreak.
Instead of cheering and dancing in the streets, the city of Bengaluru was left mourning as a massive stampede claimed 11 lives and injured more than 50 others.
The horrific incident happened on June 4, just outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where fans had gathered in overwhelming numbers to welcome back team captain Virat Kohli and the RCB squad after their win over the Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad.
Officials Point Fingers at RCB Management
After weeks of investigation, Karnataka state authorities have now officially blamed the Royal Challengers Bengaluru management for the deadly stampede.
According to a newly released government report, RCB, along with their event partners and the Karnataka State Cricket Association, failed to follow proper procedures to organize the celebration.
The report reveals that the organizers never submitted a formal request with sufficient details to receive the required permissions for such a large-scale event.
As a result, police did not approve the parade.
Despite this, the team proceeded with the victory celebration anyway.
No Green Light, But the Parade Went On
Even though the police had explicitly denied permission, RCB reportedly moved forward with their plans, which included a roadshow and a trophy parade near the stadium.
The streets quickly filled up with excited fans—numbering in the hundreds of thousands—creating conditions that spiraled out of control.
The crowd surge turned deadly just as players were displaying the trophy.
The youngest victim was only 14 years old, and the oldest was 29.
It’s a heartbreaking reminder of how easily such events can descend into chaos without proper planning.
Legal Action and Public Outcry
In the days following the stampede, local police detained four individuals, including a senior RCB executive, representatives from the event planning company DNA, and officials from the state cricket association.
So far, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team hasn’t publicly commented on the accusations or the report.
Attempts to reach them for a statement have been unsuccessful.
Reactions from National Leaders and Cricket Icons
The tragedy triggered strong emotional responses across the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “absolutely heartrending.”
Virat Kohli, visibly shaken, admitted he was “at a loss for words.”
India’s national coach, Gautam Gambhir, was blunt in his criticism.
He said he had never supported roadshows and believed the event should never have gone ahead if proper safeguards weren’t in place.
His comments echoed the sentiments of many across India who questioned the decision to hold such a parade without adequate crowd control measures.
A Deeper Conversation About Public Celebrations
This disaster has opened up a wider conversation: are roadshows and public parades by sports teams worth the risk?
In a country where cricket fans show up in overwhelming numbers, authorities and organizers may need to reconsider how such events are held.
What do you think? Should teams hold big street parades to celebrate their wins, or is it time to find safer alternatives?