Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede: How a ‘free ticket’ rumour turned RCB celebration into chaos – financialexpress.com

What began as a jubilant celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s historic IPL 2025 title turned into one of Bengaluru’s darkest evenings. A deadly stampede near the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday claimed 11 lives and left over 40 injured, exposing deep failures in crowd control, planning, and communication.
The chaos erupted at Gate No. 7 — located near the main stadium entrance and offering a broad view of incoming crowds. What made this gate a death trap was a rumour that free tickets were being handed out there. According to PTI, misinformation quickly drew hundreds to the area, overwhelming the gate designed for far fewer.
“People completely lost control,” said Achimanya, a Rajajinagar resident caught in the chaos. “Police asked us to reroute through Cubbon Park, but by then, panic had set in. People were running in all directions—towards Richmond Circle, Anil Kumble Circle. It was a disaster.”
The day began with contradictory announcements. At 11:56 am, Bengaluru Traffic Police stated there would be no victory parade, just a stadium felicitation. But by 3:14 pm, RCB’s official account posted: “Victory Parade will be followed by celebrations at the Chinnaswamy Stadium… Free passes available on shop.royalchallengers.com.”
This confusion led thousands to swarm the area — some with valid passes, others hoping to receive free ones. For many, Gate No. 7 became their entry point — and ultimately, the centre of tragedy.

While crowd mismanagement played a critical role, misinformation proved equally fatal. The unverified rumour of free ticket distribution triggered desperation among fans, many of whom had waited for hours under the blazing sun.
Matters worsened around 5:30 pm when a sudden downpour scattered and soaked the crowd. People scrambled for shelter and entry simultaneously, leading to pushing, slipping, and collapsing — a perfect storm of panic and physical risk.
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar admitted to the failure in planning. “The stadium’s capacity is 35,000, but more than 3 lakh people were there… Gates have been broken… We never expected such a big crowd.”
By 3 pm, police estimated over 50,000 people within a 1-km radius of the stadium. Gates 5, 6, 7, 19, and 20 — especially those along the RCB team’s entry route — bore the brunt of the chaos, with the worst casualties at Gate No. 7.
As panic intensified, ambulances struggled to reach the injured. “There was an ambulance with 40 injured people. I was lucky to get out in time. Even the police were overwhelmed,” said Avinash S from RR Nagar.
Sinchana N, another attendee, described the situation as “chaotic and ineffective.” “Police were just pushing people—they weren’t managing the crowd properly.”
By 6:30 pm, police resorted to lathi-charge near Cubbon Park Circle to disperse the crowd. But the damage had already been done.
Several systemic failures converged to cause the disaster:
Lack of planning: No effective crowd control measures for an event expected to draw massive crowds.

Poor communication: Conflicting and unclear information about ticketing and access points.

Inadequate security: Law enforcement was both outnumbered and ill-equipped.

Weather Impact: Sudden rain worsened visibility and footing in an already packed space.

No alternate routes: Choke points like Gate No. 7 had no contingency for rerouting or crowd dispersal.

The tragedy quickly took on a political edge. Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy blamed Deputy CM Shivakumar, accusing him of “impatience, immaturity, and irresponsibility.” Shivakumar apologised, postponed all government events scheduled for the following day, and promised a thorough investigation.
“We are very sorry… We want to know the facts and give a clear message,” he said, while also accusing the opposition BJP of politicising the tragedy.
Indian Railways has unveiled the Anji Khad Bridge, a monumental marvel of engineering, as part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project. The bridge spans 725.5 metres with a 331-meter-high pylon and can withstand winds up to 213 kmph. It will connect Katra and Reasi along the Jammu-Baramulla line and is designed to support trains traveling at 100 kmph.

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