RCB Victory Parade Tragedy highlights: Bengaluru’s celebrations take tragic turn, CM Siddaramaiah says 11 dead, Virat Kohli ‘absolutely gutted’

August 16, 1980 in Kolkata and June 4, 2025 in Bengaluru. The two days were separated by nearly 45 years but the passion and excitement of watching live sports or sporting heroes turned into unmitigated disaster with young people losing their lives.

On August 16, 1980, Kolkata football derby between arch rivals Mohun Bagan and East Bengal that took place at the Eden Gardens (there was no Salt Lake Stadium then) witnessed a massive clash between the supporters of two teams, leading to 16 deaths.

On Wednesday, the victory celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's maiden IPL triumph in 18 years was marred by death of 11 fans, who were part of more than 100,000 people desperate to catch a glimpse of Virat Kohli more than anyone else. (PTI)

We are deeply anguished by the unfortunate incidents that have come to light through media reports regarding public gatherings all over Bengaluru in anticipation of the team’s arrival this afternoon. The safety and well-being of everyone is of utmost importance to us.

RCB mourns the tragic loss of lives and extend our heartfelt condolences to the affected families.

Immediately upon being made aware of the situation, we promptly amended our program, and followed, the guidance and advice of the local administration.

We urge all our supporters to please stay safe.

The fan engagement function lasted close to an hour and the team went back to the hotel around 6.30 pm but the fans still remained near the stadium creating further traffic block and chaos, before slowly moving away after a tragic day. (PTI)

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that 11 had died and 33 were injured "due to stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium." "More than 2-3 lakh people came near Chinnaswamy Stadium, no one expected this crowd," Siddaramaiah said. "Most of deceased in RCB celebrations are youth. Government will provide Rs 10 lakh compensation to kin of deceased," he added, while declaring that there will be a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

'Whatever inquiry that needs to be done, the concerned authorities will do that. It was not a BCCI event. It is sad and tragic. The celebrations turned into a tragedy. Our heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loves ones,' Arun Dhumal told PTI.

'I am not even aware whether there was a planned event or unplanned event. Whether fans were supposed to come or they came on their own. When I spoke to the RCB officials, there was so much of noise inside the stadium they probably did not know what was happening outside. When I told them about it, they assured me they would wind up the event. 'We curtailed a game in Dharamsala (during IPL), we made sure everyone was evacuated safely. Not even person was hurt there,' he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken about the day's events in Bengaluru. He expressed his thoughts through the PMO India X handle. 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: PM @narendramodi— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 4, 2025

BCCI's Devajit Saikia has spoken to PTI about the tragedy. 'It is very unfortunate. This is a negative side of popularity. People are crazy for their cricketers. The organisers should have planned it better. My deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. I wish early recovery of the injured,' said Saikia.

'When one organises a victory celebration of this magnitude, proper precautions, safety and security measures need to be taken. There have been some lapses somewhere.

'After such a glorious ending to the IPL, this has been an anti climax. There have been IPL celebrations in the past as well, like in Kolkata last year when KKR won but nothing happened there.'

The number of those feared dead has risen to 10. Meanwhile, live visuals from the stadium has stopped. The last of it was Patidar keeping the trophy on a stand on the ground while Kohli joined his wife Anushka Sharma in the stands. 

All right, the team is now doing a lap of honour, showing the fans the trophy they have been waiting for. It is a rather quick lap though, not like what the Indian team did at the Wankhede Stadium after the 2024 T20 World Cup. The team and the crowd around them are moving quite quickly aroiund the ground. 

Kohli then proceeds to call the captain Rajat Patidar out to the crowd. He walks out with the IPL trophy in his hands, Queen's "We are the Champions" blaring out ion the stadium. 

"I don't have much time, we need to wrap this up and show you the trophy so please let me talk. I am going to start off by repeating what our captain ssaid after we won the trophy. It's no more ee sala cup namde, it's ee sala cup namdu. We have done it, this is not just for the players or someomne like me who ahs been here for 18 years but for all of you, the people of this wonderful city. People who have supported RCB through all these 18 years. The trust and love you have for the team is truly special, I have never seen any fan base anywhere in the world like you. So congratulations to all of you."

"I don't have much time, we need to wrap this up and show you the trophy so please let me talk. I am going to start off by repeating what our captain ssaid after we won the trophy. It's no more ee sala cup namde, it's ee sala cup namdu. We have done it, this is not just for the players or someomne like me who ahs been here for 18 years but for all of you, the people of this wonderful city. People who have supported RCB through all these 18 years. The trust and love you have for the team is truly special, I have never seen any fan base anywhere in the world like you. So congratulations to all of you."

All right, Virat Kohli has the mic in his hands. The crowd drowns him out as soon as he starts talking. The MC Danish Sait implores the crowd to calm down and let Kohli speak. 

Meanwhile, celebrations at the Chinnaswamy Stadium seems to be going on as scheduled. The players are on the dais. However, the big beeming smiles are no longer there on their faces. The stadium, meanwhile, is absolutely packed. 

Here is what Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said: "I apologise to the people of Karnataka and Bengaluru. We wanted to take a procession but the crowd was very uncontrollable so we dropped that procession."

All right it seems the open-top bus parade has been cancelled. Or at least, the team has reached the Chinnaswamy Stadium in their normal buses which they have been using all day long. The players are all smiles, Patidar can be seen raising the trophy to the crowd from the stadium ramparts. 

At least two are feared to be dead in the stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium. The number of injured has increased to 15 and 4 persons are in critical condition. The victims have been shifted to Bowring hospital and Vydehi hospital.

With people heading towards Chinnaswamy stadium, Benglauru metro services would not stop at Cubbon Park and Dr B R Ambedkar Metro Station, Vidhana Soudha. The step was taken to prevent the over crowding at Metro stations. 

It has to be noted that the victory parade was scheduled to start at 5pm according to RCB. That hasn't happened yet. This is the update from Bengaluru: "Open bus is going towards Vidhana Soudha the venue for felicitation of RCB players by Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah. There will be an open parade from Vidhana Soudha to stadium in all probability given the huge crowds on the route."

News coming in that 10 persons have been injured and one is said to be critical as stampede-like situation emerges near M Chinnaswamy stadium

Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya give a wave to the fans as the players appear with CM Siddaramaiah in front of the Vidhana Soudha. Meanwhile, here are more visuals of the victory parade bus.

All right, here is the bus that will carry the players from the Vidhana Soudha to the Chinnaswamy Stadium. To say the atmosphere around it is electric is an understatement. 

RCB Victory Parade Live Updates: The traffic police has put out a list of roads where traffic has been restricted. Additonally, parking of all types of vehicles is prohibited in and around the areas surrounding the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

"You can see in his (Kohli) eyes in that last over, he was shedding a tear, that's what it means to players, that's what it means to everyone,' Ponting told the media after the final. "Chennai (Super Kings) have won it a few times, Mumbai (Indians) have won it a few times, but it's not an easy tournament to win — it is as simple as that — and you have to think long and hard about that. It's not easy to win this thing," he added.

“I think it is really special for me and special for Virat Kohli and all the fans who have supported for years. They deserve it. After the Qualifier 1, at that time we thought we could do this. I think 190 was a good score on this track because it was a bit slow. The way bowlers executed their plans was tremendous to watch,” Patidar had said at the post-match presentation.

Well the uncertainty around the victory parade continues. The Bengaluru traffic police continues to say that there is no clarity on it, according to our reporter on the ground. However, they have also said that preparations have been made in case it happens. Meanwhile, this is what RCB is saying on its X handle:

And now we have visuals of the team bus arriving at the Vidhana Soudha. They will meet Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah there after which the celebrations with the fans officially begin. But one could say it is going on right now with the roads packed all through the route that the team buses and the rest of the vehicles in the cavalcade are taking. 

We have visuals of the team arriving at their hotel which will be used as a base for the day. From here, they go to the Vidhan Soudha where they will meet the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar had received the team at the airport. 

Hardik Pandya's stylishly nonchalant pose with the Champions Trophy in front of him earlier this year was among the many iconic images that came after India won the final in Dubai. Well, Krunal Pandya has struck a similar pose with the IPL trophy in RCB's photoshoot. Why not, eh?

These are the latest visuals folks, RCB have arrived in Bengaluru after their flight from Ahmedabad.

That is the latest update, unfortunately for those who were planning to get a glimpse of the IPL champions on the open-top bus. The Bengaluru traffic police had earlier said that there will be no victory parade and that the team will be feliciated at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in a function that will be held from 5pm to 6pm. Read more HERE. 

Virat Kohli reserved special praise for captain Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma, with the latter also stepping in as skipper quite sensationally late in the league stage. “These guys have a different mindset. They are made differently. Taking up the job so well. Rajat led from the front. Led with composure. His bowling changes, his calmness under pressure was absolutely phenomenal during the tournament, and he just got this really balanced personality which really helps him stay calm under pressure. And Jitesh as well. As excited as he is. He is a brilliant cricketing brain and you could see just the way he stepped up his game in the most crucial moments yeah. Two good friends from Madhya Pradesh getting the job done for RCB,” Kohli said during his speech in the dressing room in a video shared by RCB. 

The Bengaluru Traffic Police had earlier today put out an advisory in which it was stated that there will be no victory parade. However, the latest news is that the parade is "under consideration. Read more HERE

RCB were put to bat first by PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer. Virat Kohli scored 43 off 35 and was the highest run scorer as RCB ended their innings with a score of 190/9. Jitesh Sharma's 10-ball 24 and Romario Shepherd's nine-ball 17 went a long way in helping RCB get to 190. RCB's bowlers then didn't allow PBKS to get any kind of momentum in the first 10 overs. Shashank Singh provided a push in the end but it was too late, he finished unbeaten on 61 off 30. Krunal Pandya was the star of the show, grinding PBKS down whenever it looked like they were getting some momentum going for themselves. He finished with figures of 2/17 while Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned 2/38. Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal and Romario Shepherd all picked a wicket each. For RCB and Kohli, the emotions started flowing right after the second ball of the last over when it became mathematically impossible for PBKS to chase down the deficit. 

The time has come at long last for the city of Bengaluru. Their beloved RCB, for whom they have chanted time and again, delivered in its 18th year of existence. They had savoured the sweet taste of a trophy triumph with the women's team and now, the men have added their own trophy to the cabinet. Virat Kohli was at the centre of it all. After years and years of no trophies after 2013, the batting great has now won the T20 World Cup, the Champions Trophy and the IPL all within 12 months. The fact that he has been with the franchise since the beginning and been front and centre in some of the most crushing defeats they have faced over the years makes it all the more sweeter. Now, Bengaluru's beloved RCB are bringing the trophy to the city to celebrate it with their fans. Stay tuned for more updates!