Explore the tragic RCB Bangalore stampede, claiming 11 lives, including names, ages, and stories. Learn about the chaos and lessons from this heartbreak.

Table Of Contents

Introduction: A Joyous Victory Marred by Tragedy

On June 4, 2025, Bengaluru was set to celebrate Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) historic first IPL title after 18 years of anticipation.

Fans flooded the streets, eager to join the victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

However, what should have been a day of pride turned into one of sorrow when a stampede near the stadium claimed 11 lives and injured 47 others.

The overwhelming crowd, poor planning, and a collapsed drain slab turned the celebration into chaos.

At THOUSIF Inc. – INDIA, we dive into the stories of the victims, the causes of the tragedy, and the lessons learned, updated with the latest information as of June 5, 2025.

The RCB Victory Parade: A Day Of Joy Gone Wrong

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s long-awaited IPL 2025 title win against Punjab Kings was a moment of pride for fans across Karnataka.

The team, led by stars like Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar, had finally clinched the trophy after 18 years of struggle.

To celebrate, the Karnataka government and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) organized a felicitation ceremony at Vidhana Soudha, followed by an event at Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Fans flocked to the streets, waving RCB flags and chanting slogans, hoping to see their heroes up close.

However, the massive turnout, estimated at 2-3 lakh people against the stadium’s capacity of 35,000, overwhelmed security arrangements.

By 3 p.m., around 50,000 fans were packed within a 1-kilometer radius of the stadium, and the number grew.

The situation escalated when fans, desperate to enter the stadium, pushed against the gates, leading to a catastrophic stampede.

A temporary slab over a drain near the stadium reportedly collapsed, triggering panic and chaos that resulted in 11 deaths and 47 injuries.

Who Were The Victims? Names And Details

The stampede claimed the lives of 11 individuals, many of whom were young fans full of enthusiasm for their team.

While not all victims have been publicly identified, some names and details have emerged through media reports.

Below is a table summarizing the known victims:

Name	Age	Gender	Hospital	Details
AS Divyanshi	13	Female	Bowring Hospital	A Class 9 student from Kannuru attended with family to see RCB’s felicitation.
Shivalinga	17	Male	Bowring Hospital	A teenager and a passionate RCB fan, caught in the crowd surge.
Chinmayi	19	Female	Manipal Hospital	A young woman who died in the chaos, leaving her family devastated.
Bhoomik	20	Male	Vydehi Hospital	A young man lost in the frenzy near the stadium gates.
Prajwal G	20	Male	Vydehi Hospital	An engineering student, described as “crazy about RCB,” died in an RCB shirt.
Shravan	20	Male	Bowring Hospital	A devoted fan who succumbed to injuries from the crowd surge.
Sahana	25	Female	Vydehi Hospital	A new joinee at a tech firm, who attended with colleagues, was tragically killed.
Poorna Chandra	25	Male	Vydehi Hospital	A recently engaged man from Mandya died after attempts to revive him failed.
Akshata	27	Female	Vydehi Hospital	A corporate professional attended alone to celebrate RCB’s victory.
Kamakshi Devi	29	Female	Vydehi Hospital	An employee at a private firm, her family traveled from Tamil Nadu to mourn.
Manoj Kumar	33	Male	Bowring Hospital	An 18-year-old college student, son of a pani puri vendor, died with friends.

Breakdown Of Fatalities By Hospital

The victims were distributed across three hospitals in Bengaluru, with the following death tolls reported:

Hospital	Deaths	Details
Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital	6	AS Divyanshi (13, F), Shivalinga (17, M), Shravan (20, M), Manoj Kumar (33, M), and two unidentified victims (one female, one male).
Vydehi Super-speciality Hospital	4	Bhoomik (20, M), Prajwal G (20, M), Sahana (25, F), Poorna Chandra (25, M), Akshata (27, F), Kamakshi Devi (29, F).
Manipal Hospital, Millers’ Road	1	Chinmayi (19, F).

The Victims’ Stories: A Closer Look

Stories Behind The Names

AS Divyanshi, 13: A schoolgirl from Kannuru, she attended with her mother, aunt, and sister. Her grandmother’s grief outside Bowring Hospital’s mortuary highlighted the family’s loss.
Shivalinga, 17: A teenager whose love for RCB brought him to the stadium, only to be caught in the deadly surge.
Prajwal G, 20: An engineering student, his mother, Pavithra Ganesh, mourned, “He died in an RCB shirt,” reflecting his fandom.
Manoj Kumar, 33: An 18-year-old first-year student at Presidency College, son of a pani puri vendor, he insisted on attending with friends, as recounted by his friend Satvik.
Sahana, 25: A recent tech firm employee, she left work early with colleagues to join the celebrations, only to lose her life.
Poorna Chandra, 25: From Mandya, recently saw a girl a day before to marry. His family was shocked to learn of his death via social media videos showing attempts to revive him.
Kamakshi Devi, 29: A private firm employee, her colleagues tried contacting her after the stampede, only to learn she was at Vydehi Hospital’s mortuary.

The Chaos: What Happened?

The stampede unfolded in unfortunate events, exacerbated by poor planning and an overwhelming crowd.

Here’s a detailed timeline of how the tragedy occurred:

Morning Preparations: RCB announced a victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium, with limited free passes available online. Fans began gathering early, with celebrations already in full swing across Bengaluru’s streets the previous night.
Crowd Surge: By 1:30 p.m., after the RCB team arrived at HAL Airport and proceeded to Vidhana Soudha, an estimated 1 lakh fans had gathered there. The crowd swelled to 2-3 lakh near the stadium by afternoon, far exceeding expectations.
Cancelled Parade: At 11:56 a.m., traffic police canceled the open-bus parade due to security concerns, but the decision wasn’t widely communicated, leading to confusion. Fans continued to converge on the stadium, hoping to enter for the felicitation event.
Stampede Trigger: Around 4:45 p.m., a stampede-like situation erupted at Gate No. 3 near Cubbon Park. Fans pushed against the gates, and a temporary slab over a drain collapsed, causing panic. Eyewitnesses reported fans climbing walls, fences, and trees to get a better view, adding to the chaos.
Emergency Response: Police struggled to control the crowd, resorting to a mild lathi charge. Due to road congestion, ambulances faced delays, complicating efforts to transport the injured to hospitals like Bowring, Vydehi, and Manipal.

The lack of crowd control measures, the underestimation of attendance, and last-minute changes to the event schedule were cited as major factors contributing to the tragedy.

Official Response: Compensation and Inquiry

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed deep sorrow, stating, “The pain of this tragedy has erased the joy of victory.” He announced the following measures:

Compensation: Rs 10 lakh for the families of each deceased victim.
Free Treatment: All medical expenses for the injured. There were 47 reported injuries, including some with fractures and head injuries requiring treatment at NIMHANS.
Magisterial Inquiry: A 15-day investigation led by an IAS officer to probe the incident and identify lapses.

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) also pledged Rs 5 lakh per family, emphasizing that the gesture was meant to provide support, not replace the value of lives lost.

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar visited hospitals, urging calm and assuring the best medical care for the injured.

The event was cut short within 10 minutes of the stampede, with RCB players, including Virat Kohli, expressing their grief.

Public Reactions

The tragedy sparked widespread reactions from public figures and fans alike:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Called the incident “absolutely heartrending,” offering condolences and prayers for the injured.
RCB Team: Issued a statement expressing deep anguish and mourning the loss of lives, emphasizing the importance of fan safety.
BCCI and Cricketers: BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla urged against politicizing the tragedy, while Anil Kumble called it a “sad day for cricket.”
Political Criticism: BJP leaders, including former CM Basavaraj Bommai and Amit Malviya, criticized the Congress-led state government for poor planning and demanded accountability. Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy labeled it a “complete failure” of precautionary measures.

Social media was flooded with condolences, with fans and analysts like Aakash Chopra expressing shock. The Bengaluru Metro halted services at key stations like Cubbon Park to manage the crowd, but the damage was done.

Why Did This Happen?

Several factors contributed to the stampede:

Factor	Details
Underestimated Crowd Size	Organizers expected 35,000-40,000 fans, but 2-3 lakh gathered.
Poor Planning	Last-minute changes, like canceling the parade, were confusing.
Inadequate Security	Despite 5,000 police personnel, the crowd overwhelmed the arrangements.
Infrastructure Failure	A collapsed drain slab near the stadium triggered panic.
Lack of Communication	Fans were unaware of the canceled parade, leading to gate overcrowding.

Combining these factors turned a celebratory event into a tragedy, highlighting the need for better crowd management and event planning.

Lessons For The Future

The RCB stampede is a stark reminder of the importance of safety at large public events.

Here are key takeaways:

Crowd Estimation and Planning: Event organizers must accurately predict attendance and prepare accordingly, especially for high-profile events like IPL celebrations.
Clear Communication: Timely updates about schedule changes can prevent confusion and chaos.
Robust Security Measures: Adequate police presence, barriers, and controlled entry points are critical to managing large crowds.
Emergency Preparedness: Quick access for ambulances and medical teams can save lives in a crisis.
Infrastructure Checks: Temporary structures, like drain slabs, must be inspected to ensure safety under crowd pressure.

Conclusion: Honoring The Lost, Learning From Tragedy

The RCB Bangalore stampede is a heartbreaking chapter in the team’s history, turning a moment of triumph into one of sorrow.

The loss of 11 lives, including young fans like Divyamshi, Diya, Shravan, Bhoomik, Sahana, and Chinmayi, reminds us of the fragility of life and the importance of safety.

As Bengaluru mourns, the focus must shift to supporting the affected families and ensuring such tragedies are never repeated.

At THOUSIF Inc. – INDIA, we stand with the victims’ families and hope for a future where celebrations bring only joy.

Explore more stories and insights on our website, and let us honor the memory of those lost by advocating for safer public events.

Share your thoughts in the comments below, and stay tuned for more updates.