Massive Lapses Lead to Bengaluru Stampede: CM Suspends Police Top Brass, Orders Arrests

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Eleven lives were tragically lost and more than 50 people injured after a crowd stampede at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory parade outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, 2025. The event, organized to mark the team’s historic IPL championship win, turned into a disaster due to severe lapses in planning and crowd control.

Following the incident, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took immediate action, suspending several top police officials, including Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayanand. The CM also ordered the arrest of event organizers and key functionaries from RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and DNA Entertainment Networks.

In a public address later that day, Siddaramaiah said, “This tragedy could have been avoided. We will ensure that every person responsible for this lapse—whether from the police, event organizers, or the franchise—is held accountable.”

The stampede occurred at around 6:45 AM near Gate No. 7, when the crowd—estimated at over 30,000 people—began to push forward amid confusion about entry points and the location of the team’s arrival. With metro stations nearby closed due to security restrictions and no clear signage or personnel to guide the public, the crowd surged in multiple directions, resulting in chaos and a fatal bottleneck.

Emergency services were delayed, and police were reportedly unprepared for the size of the turnout. Videos from the scene showed people screaming, fainting, and being carried away on improvised stretchers. Several citizens nearby tried to help, but the density of the crowd made rescue efforts difficult.

A senior CID officer involved in the investigation said, “There were no emergency exits, no ambulances on standby, and no police contingency plan. This was a gross failure of basic event planning.”

Public anger reached a boiling point as news of the tragedy spread. Opposition parties, particularly the BJP, demanded not only the resignation of the police commissioner but also of the CM and his deputy. “This is no small incident. This was state-sponsored negligence,” said BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje.

To prevent the matter from becoming solely political, the CM appointed a retired judge, Justice Michael Cunha, to lead a full-fledged judicial inquiry. The commission has been given 30 days to present its findings. Simultaneously, a CID-led criminal probe is underway, focusing on coordination failures between the police, BBMP (Bangalore’s civic body), and private event planners.

The government also announced a relief package: ₹10 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and full medical care for the injured at top hospitals in the city.

RCB, in its statement, called the incident a “heartbreaking tragedy” and pledged to support the affected families. However, they declined to comment on the arrests and the planning procedures behind the event.

Crowd control experts have since pointed out that international guidelines on managing large gatherings were completely ignored. “No barriers, no zoning, no egress plans. It was a recipe for disaster,” said Ajay Varma, a crowd safety consultant.

As the investigation unfolds, what remains clear is that a city’s dream moment was marred by fatal mismanagement. In a metropolis that hosts global summits and tech events regularly, the basic failure to manage a local victory parade has left Bengaluru and its citizens shaken—and demanding lasting change.