New Delhi/Bengaluru, June 4 (IANS) — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed deep grief over a tragic stampede near Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium that left at least 11 people dead and over 30 injured. The incident occurred as fans surged towards the stadium gates to join a victory celebration marking Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title win.
Sharing his condolences via social media, the Prime Minister said: “The mishap in Bengaluru is absolutely heartrending. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that those who are injured have a speedy recovery.”
The stampede unfolded when massive crowds rushed from multiple entry points, overwhelming police and security personnel. Eyewitnesses said the chaos intensified as vehicles struggled to navigate the jammed roads near the venue, delaying emergency response.
Authorities confirmed that ambulances faced difficulty in reaching Bowring Hospital due to extreme overcrowding in the area.
Earlier, the Karnataka government had called off a planned victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to the stadium, citing security concerns. However, that did little to deter thousands of fans from assembling.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, addressing a press conference, called the incident a “big tragedy” and noted that turnout had far exceeded expectations.
“About 2 to 3 lakh people gathered at the stadium, which has a capacity of only 35,000. One lakh had already assembled in front of Vidhana Soudha. Most of the deceased are young girls and boys. This was unforeseen,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh each for the families of the deceased and assured free medical treatment for the injured. He also confirmed that all injured individuals are currently out of danger.
“A magisterial inquiry has been ordered. We will take action against whoever is found responsible,” he said, adding that he had personally visited Bowring and Vaidehi hospitals to meet the injured.
Police said they had been managing the crowds since Tuesday night, and that security forces had been deployed throughout to prevent chaos. Despite these efforts, the situation escalated rapidly as fans overwhelmed control measures.
The tragedy has cast a pall over what was intended to be a jubilant public celebration of RCB’s historic IPL win.
