Bengaluru: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed profound sorrow on Wednesday following a tragic stampede in Bengaluru that occurred during the celebrations of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) victory in the IPL. He urged the state government to enhance safety protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.
According to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, at least 11 individuals lost their lives in the incident, with many others sustaining injuries.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic stampede in Bengaluru during the celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 victory. The loss of precious lives and the injuries sustained by many in this unfortunate incident are profoundly distressing,” Kharge stated in a post on X.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed his condolences, describing the stampede near Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium as heartbreaking.
“My heartfelt condolences go out to the families who have lost their loved ones. I wish a swift and complete recovery to all those injured,” Gandhi wrote on X.
“In this hour of grief, I stand in solidarity with the people of Bengaluru. The Karnataka government must provide all possible support and relief to the affected families,” he added.
“This tragedy serves as a painful reminder that no celebration is worth a human life. It is imperative that every safety protocol for public events be thoroughly reviewed and strictly enforced—lives must always take precedence,” the former Congress president emphasized.
What began as a jubilant celebration quickly turned into a devastating tragedy, as at least 11 people lost their lives and numerous others were injured outside Chinnaswamy Stadium while attempting to join the festivities honoring RCB’s IPL triumph. Despite the chaos, the felicitation of the players proceeded as planned, with the stadium filled to capacity.
