Crowd crush leads to multiple deaths at India's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium

At least 11 people have died following a crowd stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in the Indian city of Bengaluru.

The incident on Wednesday 4th June - occurred as fans celebrated Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)’s Indian Premier League win earlier in the week - also led to more than 50 people being injured.

With RCB announcing a public celebration via social media, the stadium, with a capacity of 35,000, was surrounded by an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 people. Many fans, including those without tickets, attempted to enter the stadium, leading to overcrowding and chaos. A rumour about free passes being available at Gate 7 further exacerbated the situation, causing a surge that resulted in the deadly stampede.

The deceased were predominantly young fans, with the youngest being just 13 years old. Many had come to witness the historic victory celebration, only to be caught in the tragic events that unfolded.

In the aftermath, RCB pledged financial support to the victims' families, offering ₹1 million (approximately $11,654) to each and establishing the 'RCB Cares' fund for the injured. The Karnataka state government also announced compensation and committed to covering medical expenses for the injured.

Authorities arrested four individuals, including Nikhil Sosale, RCB’s Head of Marketing and Revenue, on charges related to the lack of proper crowd management and safety measures. The Karnataka High Court has sought a detailed report on the incident, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact causes and lapses that led to the tragedy.

Image: The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in the Indian city of Bengaluru. Credit: Shutterstock.