Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah blamed the unexpectedly massive crowd for the deadly stampede that killed 11 people and left 33 injured on Wednesday.
The occasion was the homecoming of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, after winning their maiden IPL title at Ahmedabad on Tuesday night. Virat Kohli and his teammates were to be felicitated at the Chinnaswamy Stadium after a function at the Vidhana Soudha.
However, police couldn’t control the sea of humanity outside Gate No. 3, resulting in a stampede as people panicked and trampled on each other in an effort to escape.
The chief minister said around 2 to 3 lakh people had assembled outside Chinnaswamy Stadium, which has a capacity of 35,000.
“The turnout was far beyond what we anticipated. In front of Vidhana Soudha, nearly one lakh people had gathered, but there were no incident there. However, at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, there were casualties. No one, neither the Cricket Association nor the government, expected this, as the stadium has a seating capacity of about 35,000. We assumed only a slightly larger crowd would show up. But almost two to three lakh people gathered,” he added.
Calling it a major tragedy, Siddaramaiah said such an incident “should never have happened, and the government deeply regrets it.”
Deeply shocked by the tragic loss of lives in the stampede during the RCB victory celebrations near Chinnaswamy Stadium. A moment of joy has been eclipsed by sorrow.
I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.…
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) June 4, 2025
Magisterial inquiry ordered
The Karnataka chief minister, who said most of the deceased were young, said he has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.
Siddaramaiah announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives, while the treatment cost of all injured people will be borne by the state government.
Asked about BJP’s charge of criminal negligence on the part of the Congress-helmed government, the CM said he doesn’t want to politicise the incident.
“I do not want to play politics in this case. I don’t want to play politics. That is why, even though there was an unexpected crowd, we have ordered a magisterial probe. I don’t want to defend the incident. I don’t want to play politics. Let us see the magisterial report. I will give 15 days for this report,” he added.
Even though he didn’t want to ‘politicise’ the tragedy, the CM went on to mention many stampedes have occurred in the country.
“These kind of stampedes have occurred. Even worse ones have happened. I am not defending… it happened… in Kumbh Mela also…in Kumbh Mela about 50-60 people died,” Siddaramaiah said.
PM Modi’s condolence
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the stampede in Bengaluru as “absolutely heartrending.”
“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,” Modi wrote on X.
