The merry moments of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) winning their first IPL title soon became a nightmare for the city of Bengaluru. On June 4, the large crowd that gathered outside the legendary M Chinnaswamy Stadium, cheering for the victory, turned into a fatal stampede, killing 11 individuals and injuring over 50. Now, in the wake of this tragedy, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has opened up a key change literally by considering shifting the old stadium from its present site in the city's clogged heart.

Under intense pressure and public anger, CM Siddaramaiah finally spoke up, describing the stampede as "deeply painful" and confessing that shifting the stadium is being seriously contemplated. "The government will consider relocation of the cricket stadium to another site. Such a deplorable incident should never occur under any administration," he said during a press conference.

Situated in the Central Business District (CBD) area of Bengaluru, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium usually causes huge traffic jams and overgrounding during high-profile cricket matches. On the victory parade day of the IPL, more than 3 lakh people were estimated to have flocked around the stadium, well beyond the capacity of the area and causing pandemonium that spiralled into the deadly stampede.

Government Defends Actions Amid Political Heat

The Karnataka government acted quickly on the crisis. Five policemen were suspended, and the state intelligence chief as well as the CM's political secretary were changed. The government also raised compensation for the victims from ₹10 lakh to ₹25 lakh per family as a result of popular outrage. But the opposition wasn't satisfied. The BJP and JDS criticised the Congress government, calling for both Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar to resign. BJP leaders also committed to donating one month's salary to help the families affected.

Despite the backlash, CM Siddaramaiah maintained that the administration acted responsibly. “The government has not done anything wrong. This incident is saddening, but no misstep was taken. Legal action has been initiated against those found guilty,” he said. He also pointed fingers back at the opposition, questioning their silence during similar past tragedies elsewhere. “Did the UP CM resign when people died in the Kumbh Mela? Was there such a political uproar then?” he asked.

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KSCA Under Spotlight as Stadium Safety Debate Intensifies

In a new twist, the Chief Minister clarified that the celebration programme was hosted by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and not the state government. "The Secretary and Treasurer of KSCA invited me. The programme was not ours, I only attended as a guest," he stated. This clarification followed reports about a warning letter, sent by DCP MN Karibasvanna on the morning of June 4, cautioning against poor security arrangements and crowd control issues.

Chinnaswamy Stadium, as iconic as it is, has long been a logistical thorn in the side. Being close to important government complexes, business areas, and tight roads, it's becoming a less desirable location to host events that draw lakhs of people. The June 4 tragedy has once again raised questions of age-old anxiety over whether major sports stadiums in Indian cities are capable of accommodating mass crowds safely. Urban planners, citizens, and political leaders alike are now reexamining the destiny of public event spaces in fast-growing metropolitan cities like Bengaluru.

While the decision is yet to be taken, the option of moving the stadium to a secure and accessible area is on the cards. "We will take a call after proper consultation with stakeholders," said Siddaramaiah. The exercise, if undertaken, will mean intricate coordination among the state, KSCA, BCCI, and urban development authorities. For the time being, Bengaluru is in mourning. Eleven families are crying over the senseless and sudden loss of their loved ones. But as the dust settles, the city is also facing a choice. The tragedy has exposed the imperative for improved infrastructure, more efficient crowd management, and accountability.

Whether or not the stadium is shifted eventually, one thing is for sure: June 4, 2025, will be etched in history not only as the day RCB eventually won the IPL trophy, but as the day a party became a tragedy.

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.

CID Probe Starts as Top Officials Quit

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.

ಚಿನ್ನಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಕ್ರೀಡಾಂಗಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಭವಿಸಿದ ಕಾಲ್ತುಳಿತ ದುರಂತದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೃತರಾದವರ ಕುಟುಂಬಗಳಿಗೆ ಘೋಷಿಸಿದ್ದ ಪರಿಹಾರವನ್ನು ತಲಾ ರೂ.10 ಲಕ್ಷದಿಂದ 25 ಲಕ್ಷ ರೂ.ಗಳಿಗೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸುವಂತೆ ಆದೇಶಿಸಿದ್ದೇನೆ.

ತಮ್ಮವರನ್ನು ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡು ನೊಂದಿರುವ ಕುಟುಂಬಗಳು ಆರ್ಥಿಕ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳಿಂದಾಗಿ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಸಂಕಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಒಳಗಾಗದಿರಲಿ ಎನ್ನುವುದು ನಮ್ಮ…

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) June 7, 2025

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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.