Bengaluru: In the wake of a heartbreaking tragedy that struck during Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) IPL victory celebrations, the team has pledged strong support for victims and their families. Eleven lives were lost and many injured in a stampede-like situation near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where thousands had gathered to celebrate RCB’s historic maiden IPL title win after 18 long years.
RCB has announced a financial aid of ₹10 lakh each to the families of the deceased and launched a dedicated relief initiative — ‘RCB Cares’ — to assist those injured.
“What happened in Bengaluru yesterday was deeply tragic and painful for the RCB family. We offer our sincere condolences and stand firmly with the families of those who lost their lives. To support them, we are providing ₹10 lakh each and have set up ‘RCB Cares’ to help the injured. Our fans are our strength, and we will always stand by them,” the franchise said in an official statement.
The incident unfolded despite police denying permission for an open-top bus parade due to crowd control concerns. Still, lakhs of fans poured into the city’s streets, resulting in overcrowding and chaos. Reports suggest that just 5,000 police personnel were deployed for the massive crowd, raising serious concerns about event preparedness and public safety.
Earlier, the Karnataka government had also announced ₹10 lakh compensation per deceased victim and assured complete support to the affected families and injured.
What was meant to be a moment of unbridled joy for RCB fans turned into a day of sorrow — but the team’s response offers a glimmer of solidarity and support in the face of tragedy.
