On June 4, what should have been a historic moment of celebration turned into a dark day for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans. A stampede broke out outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during the team’s victory parade killing 11 people and injuring more than 75 others. The team had just lifted their first Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy in 18 seasons. For millions of loyal fans, it was a moment long awaited. But in a matter of minutes, joy turned into horror.
Arrests, Outrage, and the Blame Game
In the wake of the tragedy, Bengaluru Police arrested Nikhil Sosale, RCB’s head of marketing, for alleged lapses in organizing the event.Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is also seen in action in this case. Police officers from Inspector to Commissioner level have been suspended.
Critics are now directing their outrage at both the franchise and the local government. How could such a massive gathering be allowed without adequate safety arrangements? Why weren’t crowd control protocols in place?
These are valid questions, and the answers so far have been inadequate.
Government, Franchise, or Fans, Who Failed?
This disaster raises an urgent and uncomfortable question: Who should be held accountable for the stampede?
The government, for not deploying enough police or enforcing crowd control measures?
RCB management, for failing to anticipate the sheer scale of fan turnout and coordinating poorly?
Or even the fans themselves, for showing little civic sense and becoming uncontrollable in their enthusiasm?
In truth, the failure is collective. And this isn't an isolated case.
A Global Warning, Ignored!
Just days before the Bengaluru stampede, a similar incident occurred in France. When Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won their first-ever UEFA Champions League title, 2 people died and over 500 were arrested during the victory celebrations. Ironically, both PSG and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) share the same sponsor, which led to memes predicting RCB’s first ever title win as well. However, amid the jokes, some fans expressed genuine concern, What would happen if RCB actually won and the celebrations got out of control? Would the intense passion of RCB fans be managed properly? Unfortunately, those concerns proved tragically accurate, as the celebrations ended up costing 11 lives. Now, those jokes feel haunting.
Lessons Repeatedly Unlearned
It’s baffling that despite repeated warnings from history, event organizers and city officials continue to ignore basic safety protocols. From stampedes at religious gatherings to concert disasters and sports celebrations, India and the world have witnessed enough tragedies to know better.
RCB fans are some of the most passionate in the IPL. Their enthusiasm is expected. What isn’t acceptable is the complete lack of preparation by those in charge. Crowd psychology is no mystery. The outcome here was foreseeable and preventable.
Where Do We Go From Here?
This tragedy should serve as a wake up call, not just for RCB or the organizers, but for all franchises, cities, and institutions that host large scale events.
Authorities must enforce stricter crowd management protocols.
Franchise and event organizers must work closely with police and civic bodies.
Fans must be made aware of how to participate in celebrations responsibly.
No celebration is worth the cost of a human life. We must ensure such tragedies are never repeated. What should have been a day of pride became a day of mourning and that should never be allowed to happen again.