‘What Was Meant To Be Day Of Celebration…’: IPL Chairman Dhumal Reacts To Bengaluru Stampede

RCB’s first-ever IPL win turned tragic on Wednesday after at least 11 persons died and over 30 others were injured in a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where thousands of fans had gathered to catch a glimpse of the team during the felicitation ceremony. Following the tragic incident, IPL Chairman Arun Dhamal expressed condolences to the bereaved families on behalf of BCCI, saying that the day which was meant to be for celebration turned into a “wave of grief”. 

More than 2-3 lakh people thronged the venue to attend the event, despite the stadium’s capacity being just 35,000, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said. The overwhelming crowd, which the CM himself said was “unexpected,” led to a stampede outside the stadium, which eventually resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries.   

“This is truly a matter of deep sorrow. What was meant to be a day of celebration has turned into a wave of grief. On behalf of the BCCI, I extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. We are deeply saddened that people who came to celebrate were struck by such a tragedy,” the IPL Chairman told news agency PTI.

Dhamal stressed the district administration must take this as a lesson to ensure that such events are never repeated, and maintained that he does not wish to politicise the matter.

“As far as the BCCI is concerned, the IPL concluded yesterday. All necessary protocols were discussed with the concerned administration. I do not wish to politicise this issue, it is a tragic incident, and the district administration must take this as a lesson to ensure that such events are never repeated,” he said.

When asked who is responsible for the incident, Dhamal said that the answer would be revealed only after proper investigation. “The administration must look into who organised the event, how it was done, and whether the necessary safety protocols were followed. Only then will accountability be established,” he said.

VIDEO | On the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal says, “This is truly a matter of deep sorrow. What was meant to be a day of celebration has turned into a wave of grief. On behalf of the BCCI, I extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their… pic.twitter.com/uNIK5JeJRg

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 4, 2025

Earlier today, the BCCI said the turn of events was shocking and that the organisers should have been better-prepared to avoid such a mishap.

“It’s most unfortunate, organisers should have planned RCB’s IPL-winning celebrations better,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told PTI.

“When one organises a victory celebration of this magnitude, proper precautions and security measures need to be taken,” he added.

IPL chairman Arun Dhumal had also clarified that the event was not hosted by the BCCI, adding that the concerned authorities will carry out whatever inquiry that needs to be done. “It was not a BCCI event. It is sad and tragic.”