Why it matters:
The tragedy casts a shadow over a moment of national celebration and highlights ongoing safety challenges at mass public events in India. The Royal Challengers' win marked their Indian Premier League title, drawing huge crowds and sparking unmanageable chaos.
The big picture:
India has a troubling track record of deadly stampedes during large gatherings, from religious festivals to sporting events. In just the past year, stampedes have killed over 130 people, including 100 during a religious event in July 2024 and 30 during the Maha Kumbh festival in January. The lack of robust crowd control measures continues to pose fatal risks.
Key points:
- The crowd had gathered to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s "first-ever" IPL win.
- The IPL is the world’s most-watched T20 cricket league.
- India has a history of fatal stampedes at large public events.
- Investigation into crowd control and safety protocols is underway.
Between the lines:
The festive mood outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium quickly turned into agony. The RCB event continued irrespective, although Saikia (local guards) insisted it is unfair to comment on why the celebrations went ahead.
Go deeper:
With sports and religious gatherings in India drawing millions annually, authorities face mounting pressure to implement life-saving changes before the next celebration turns fatal.
Hossein Vaez
