Bengaluru Stampede Tragedy: 11 Dead, Multiple FIRs Filed as Investigation Begins

What should have been a moment of joy turned into a nightmare in Bengaluru. The Bengaluru Stampede Tragedy during the celebration of RCB’s maiden IPL victory at Chinnaswamy Stadium shook the city and the nation. Eleven people died and over 50 were injured in the chaos.

What Went Wrong at Chinnaswamy Stadium?

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) organized the event to honor the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team. But what started as a celebration spiraled into a tragic stampede. Over 3 lakh fans showed up for an event designed to accommodate only 35,000.

Free passes were distributed, and social media posts by RCB encouraged more people to attend. The crowd included many without tickets, and when gates were shut after the stadium filled, panic broke out. People pushed through narrow gates, and some even tried to scale barriers and walls to gain entry.

Chaos and Crowd Crush

Police estimate that around 50,000 people had gathered within a 1-km radius of the stadium. By 3:30 PM, the crowd’s pressure broke through the gates, resulting in the deadly stampede. Fans screamed “RCB, RCB” while climbing trees, cars, and barricades to catch a glimpse of the players.

At one point, police had to resort to a lathi charge to control the crowd. Videos from the scene show desperate attempts by fans to enter the premises, and eventually, the tragedy unfolded.

Confusion Over Free Passes and Parade

A key trigger was the confusion around the event. The Bengaluru traffic police said there would be no parade, but at 3:14 PM, RCB posted that a parade would start at 5 PM, along with free passes. Many fans turned up expecting entry, creating chaos at the stadium gates.

“In the morning, we were told passes could be bought. Later, we heard they were being given out free. So many of us came hoping to get in,” said Rakesh Prakash, a fan present at the spot.

Government Response and Compensation

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar offered an apology and said, “We never expected such a big crowd. The gates were broken. We apologise.”

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced Rs 10 lakh compensation for families of the deceased and free treatment for the injured.

Condolences from National Leaders

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi both extended their condolences. PM Modi described the incident as “absolutely heartrending.”

FIRs and Investigation

The Bengaluru Police have filed 11 FIRs related to the Bengaluru Stampede Tragedy, including one suo moto case under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for culpable homicide. Cases have been registered against:

• RCB Franchise
• Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA)
• DNA Entertainment (event manager)

District Magistrate G Jagadeesha has been assigned to probe the incident. He visited the site, began collecting evidence including CCTV footage, and has invited public statements on June 13 between 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM.

Officials Suspended and Transferred

In response to the tragedy:

• Intelligence chief Hemant Nimbalkar has been transferred.
• Several police officials have been suspended, including:
  • Circle Inspector A K Girish
  • ACP C Balakrishna
  • DCP Shekhar H Tekkannavar
  • Additional Commissioner Vikash Kumar Vikash
  • Bengaluru Police Commissioner Dayananda

Additionally, Karnataka CM’s political secretary K Govindaraj has been removed from his post.

Timeline of Events

• 2:00 PM: Fans begin gathering near the stadium.
• 3:00 PM: Stadium reaches capacity; gates shut.
• 3:30 PM: Stampede begins.
• 4:30 PM: Massive crowd at Vidhana Soudha.
• 5:30 PM: RCB team arrives.
• 6:30 PM: Confirmed deaths and injuries.

Ongoing Legal and Government Action

While the Karnataka cabinet is discussing transferring the case to the CID, the Karnataka High Court has directed police not to take coercive action against KSCA office bearers yet.

The official investigation continues, and a report is expected within 15 days.

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