A massive tragedy struck Bengaluru during what was meant to be a joyful celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s historic IPL win. A stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday evening led to the death of 11 people and left several others injured, turning euphoria into heartbreak.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressed the media, calling the incident an “unexpected tragedy” and clarified that the event was hosted by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), not by the state government. He explained that the stadium has a seating capacity of 35,000, but over 2 to 3 lakh people swarmed the area, with nearly one lakh gathered in front of Vidhana Soudha alone.

Siddaramaiah announced a Deputy Commissioner-level inquiry into the incident and assured that the families of the deceased will receive ₹10 lakh each as compensation. Additionally, he promised free medical treatment for all those injured. Visiting the injured at Bowring and Vaidehi hospitals, the Chief Minister confirmed that all are out of danger, based on updates from hospital staff.

In a social media post on X, he expressed grief over the tragic loss, saying, “A moment of joy has been eclipsed by sorrow.” He also reiterated that the government had denied permission for a full-scale victory parade due to crowd control concerns, highlighting the precautionary measures that had been taken in anticipation of such risks.

The incident unfolded despite visible concerns over crowd management. The unexpected surge in fan turnout overwhelmed the existing arrangements, leading to a stampede outside the stadium. The authorities are now under pressure to ensure such lapses are not repeated in future public gatherings.