Karnataka raises compensation for Bengaluru stampede victims' families from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh

In a tragic turn of events, what was meant to be a celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL 2025 victory ended in disaster near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. A huge crowd had congregated to celebrate their team's victory, but the poor crowd control and absence of police presence led to a stampede, resulting in the death of an estimated 11 people and critically injuring many others. The chaos unfolded on June 4, turning joy into mourning in a matter of minutes.

As a reaction to the tragedy, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared a hike in compensation for the families of the victims. The compensation that was initially ₹10 lakh for each of the deceased has been doubled to ₹25 lakh each. Condoling the loss, Siddaramaiah said in a post on X that the state government is determined to help those affected and ensure that no family is left behind because of financial constraints during this dark time.

The Chief Minister's declaration was greeted with relief and further outrage, as people wondered at the security arrangements at such a massive public gathering. With anger and sorrow escalating, the stage was set for those in charge of the event and maintenance of security.

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The stampede has also had far-reaching administrative implications. Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda was suspended in the face of public outcry at the unplanned lack of coordination. The incident also led to a change at the top in the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), with Secretary A. Shankar and Treasurer E.S. Jairam putting in their resignations on June 7.

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A day before a crucial internal meeting, the case was transferred by the state government to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for a detailed investigation. KSCA President Raghuram Bhat testified that although the association has not yet received a call from the CID, they are completely ready to assist in the investigation and help in every way possible.