RCB victory parade tragic: Celebrations were celebrated in a stampede.

What began as a moment of jubilation for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans turned into a scene of chaos and tragedy on Tuesday. The much-anticipated victory parade, celebrating RCB’s maiden IPL title win in 2025, was held at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. While fans thronged the venue to cheer their team and witness the players' felicitation ceremony, the overwhelming crowd led to a stampede that claimed several lives and left many injured.

RCB’s historic win has sparked immense excitement across the state, with thousands of fans pouring into the streets to be part of the victory procession. The celebrations took a grim turn, however, when crowd control failed, and a stampede broke out during the parade. Police had to resort to a mild lathi charge to manage the swelling crowds, but the situation quickly spiraled out of control. According to early reports, at least 15 to 20 people have been injured in the incident, and tragically, seven deaths have been confirmed so far. Authorities fear that the death toll may rise as several of the injured remain in critical condition.

Simultaneously, within the stadium, the Karnataka government proceeded with the official felicitation of RCB players. The contrast between the jubilant celebrations inside and the chaos outside has drawn criticism from many quarters. Eyewitnesses and commentators have labeled the government's decision to carry on with the ceremony amidst the tragedy as insensitive and disconnected from the unfolding crisis. While the players, including team icon Virat Kohli, were honored on stage amid cheers and confetti, cries of distress echoed outside the stadium. The stark juxtaposition of celebration and suffering has led to growing outrage on social media and calls for accountability over the mismanagement of crowd control and public safety.

Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the stampede and the adequacy of security arrangements for such a large-scale public event. Meanwhile, emergency services continue to provide assistance to the injured and efforts are being made to identify the deceased. As Bengaluru mourns the lives lost during what should have been a joyous occasion, questions are being raised about the preparedness of event organizers and the need for stricter safety protocols in future public gatherings.