Deaths and injuries to fans mar RCB's homecoming in Bengaluru

Eleven people died in Bengaluru on Wednesday due to injuries suffered during stampede-like conditions around the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) players were being celebrated for winning the IPL for the first time in 18 years.

There have been reports of injuries to several more people, who have been admitted to nearby hospitals.

Karnataka's chief minister Siddaramaiah said he had ordered an inquiry into the chain of events that led to the tragedy. "I don't want to defend this incident," Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday evening. "Our government is not going to do politics on this. I have ordered a magisterial inquiry, and given them 15 days' time. There are only small gates at the stadium; hope you've visited the stadium.

"People entered through the gates, and broke them. A stampede took place; no one expected such a huge crowd. Capacity of the stadium is only 35,000, but two-three lakh people have come to participate in the celebration. I'm not denying or saying nothing happened, that's why I've ordered an enquiry. The pain of this tragedy has also erased the joy of victory."

Several police personnel engaged to manage crowds on Wednesday afternoon were seen carrying fans - some of them minors - to hospital amid rain and heavy traffic that had come to a grinding halt, even as RCB's victorious squad held the trophy aloft as celebrations continued in front of at least 25,000 fans who had made it inside the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

ESPNcricinfo understands the chaos outside the venue prompted state police to issue a directive to the franchise, urging them to keep the celebrations brief. A planned victory lap around the ground was also curtailed as the players exited the venue quickly.

A family member of one of those injured described the scenes as "complete mismanagement" by local authorities. At least four fans were brought in unconscious from the nearby Cubbon Park Metro Station.

Hours after the end of the event at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB issued the following statement: "We are deeply anguished by the unfortunate incidents that have come to light through media reports regarding public gatherings all over Bengaluru in anticipation of the team's arrival this afternoon. The safety and well-being of everyone is of utmost importance to us.

"RCB mourns the tragic loss of lives and extend our heartfelt condolences to the affected families. Immediately upon being made aware of the situation, we promptly amended our program, and followed the guidance and advice of the local administration. We urge all our supporters to please stay safe."

An administrative staff member at one of the hospitals confirmed emergency cases ranging from dehydration to bruises and mild skull fractures. There were also cases of exhaustion and trauma caused by the stampede-like situation that led to several fans trying to climb the boundary wall of the stadium along Cubbon Road.

A family member of one of those injured described the scenes as "complete mismanagement" by local authorities. At least four fans were brought in unconscious from the nearby Cubbon Park Metro Station, with emergency wards at Bowring Hospital and Lady Curzon Hospital working swiftly to address the crisis.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia expressed his condolences. "It is very unfortunate. This is a negative side of popularity," he said. "People are crazy for their cricketers. The organisers should have planned it better. My deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. I wish early recovery of the injured."

"When one organises a victory celebration of this magnitude, proper precautions, safety and security measures need to be taken. There have been some lapses somewhere."

The news that there would be an event in Bengaluru to celebrate the RCB team emerged on Tuesday night, after they won the final against Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad. "I think I'm going to feel the real side of it when we get to Bengaluru," Virat Kohli had told RCB Bold Diaries. "And celebrate it with the city and fans who've stood by us through thick and thin."

Over the course of the last 24 hours, there was a lack of clarity in public information regarding how events would unfold in Bengaluru on Wednesday. At around 9.45am, RCB outlined the team's movements from the airport to the Chinnaswamy Stadium via the Vidhana Soudha.

However, at noon, the Bengaluru traffic police said there would be no felicitation or parade, and that entry to the Chinnaswamy Stadium required tickets or passes; the public was advised to use the metro and avoid the central business district between 3pm and 8pm. In the early afternoon, RCB maintained the parade was on but advised caution, and requested fans to follow all guidelines issued by the police.

As early as 10am on Wednesday, fans had thronged the Kempegowda International Airport in Devanahalli to welcome the team even before they had departed from Ahmedabad. To minimise heavy traffic movement along the route to the international airport, there was a change of plan: local police and the chief minister's office issued clearance for the team to land at the old HAL Airport instead. They arrived around 2pm and were received by Karnataka's deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, after which they travelled by bus to their team hotel and then got to the Vidhana Soudha at 4.55pm to meet the chief minister, after which reached the Chinnaswamy Stadium at 5.45pm.

The movements of the team were flanked by immense crowds. The metro service in central Bengaluru had to halt trains briefly along the Purple Line, while more private security personnel were called in to man the stations along the route to the stadium. In an additional crowd-control measure, authorities suspended stops at key metro stations near the venue to prevent more fans from disembarking and converging on the already overwhelmed area. At one point, the stampede-like situation also led to the police employing mobile jammers, according to the stadium officials.

Heavy traffic around the ground and surrounding areas even forced a number of airlines to issue advisories to passengers flying out of Bengaluru on Wednesday evening.