A City’s Joy Turned to Tears: Ten Lives Lost in Tragic Chinnaswamy Stampede

The heart of Bengaluru is broken tonight. What began as a radiant celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) first-ever IPL triumph has dissolved into a sea of tears, as a devastating stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 10 lives, including a six-year-old girl whose only wish was to cheer for her heroes. The city that roared with pride for its cricket team now weeps for the families torn apart, forever scarred by a tragedy that could have been prevented.

A Day of Dreams Shattered

For 18 years, Bengaluru’s loyal RCB fans carried a flickering hope, dreaming of the day their team would hoist the IPL trophy. That dream ignited on June 3, 2025, when RCB clinched a heart-stopping six-run victory over Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad. The city came alive, its streets pulsing with red and gold as thousands flocked to Chinnaswamy Stadium for a victory parade, yearning to share the moment with stars like Virat Kohli and captain Rajat Patidar.

But hope turned to horror in an instant. Confusion gripped the city when the parade, initially canceled over security fears, was suddenly reinstated. By 5:00 PM, a tidal wave of fans surged toward the stadium gates, their cheers drowned by chaos. The crowd swelled beyond control, and a deadly stampede erupted. “I held my daughter’s hand, but the crowd tore us apart,” sobbed Meena Gowda, a mother whose six-year-old was among the fallen. “She just wanted to see her Virat. Now she’s gone forever.”

Ten souls were lost—six pronounced dead at Bowring Hospital, four at Vydehi Multispecialty Hospital. Over 40 others lay injured, some fighting for their lives as ambulances battled through choked roads. The cries of the fallen echoed through Bengaluru, a haunting reminder of a joy stolen by tragedy.

A City United in Grief

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stood among the wounded at Bowring Hospital, his eyes red with unshed tears. “These were our people, our dreamers, our family,” he said, voice cracking. “We failed them, and that pain will haunt us.” Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, his heart heavy, shared a trembling plea on X: “No victory is worth this sorrow. Hold your loved ones close tonight.”

Bengaluru Police, overwhelmed by the sheer mass of fans, fought to restore order, their lathi charges a desperate attempt to quell the chaos. Metro stations at Cubbon Park, MG Road, and Vidhana Soudha shut down as the city grappled with the unfolding disaster. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which hosted a felicitation inside the stadium, now faces the weight of a city’s anguish for failing to anticipate the dangers of such a massive gathering.

RCB, the soul of Bengaluru, poured out its grief. “Our hearts bleed with yours,” their statement read, promising to stand by the families who lost everything. Inside the stadium, a tearful Virat Kohli faced a hushed crowd, his voice barely steady. “This trophy was for you, our Bengaluru,” he said, clutching the IPL trophy as tears fell. “But tonight, we hold it in sorrow, mourning those we’ve lost.”