India: 11 dead after cricket stadium stampede – DW – 06/04/2025

DW

2 days ago

A top official in the Indian state of Kerala says eleven people died after a stampede at a stadium in the city of Bengaluru. Fans had been celebrating their side's win in the Indian Premier League final.
At least 11 people were killed in a stampede on Wednesday outside a cricket stadium in Bengaluru, the capital of India's southern Karnataka state.
The incident took place as thousands of fans gathered outside to celebrate the victory of their home cricket team, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, in the Indian Premier League final.
What do we know about the tragedy?
Karnataka state's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who only uses one name, said the crowd had tried to break the stadium's gates to join celebrations inside.
Eleven people were killed, Siddaramaiah said, adding that 33 had been injured. He said they were stable and receiving treatment in hospitals.
"At a time of celebration, this unfortunate event should not have happened. We are saddened by this," he told reporters. "No one expected this crowd."
Deputy chief minister of Karnataka state, D.K. Shivakumar, told the AFP news agency that police had found crowd control "very difficult."
"I apologise to the people of Karnataka and Bengaluru," he said. "We wanted to take a procession, but the crowd was very uncontrollable... the crowd was so much."
Local TV channels broadcast footage of police moving injured people to nearby ambulances.
Fatal stampedes in India
Overcrowding and stampedes of people are frequently reported at mass gatherings in India, often at religious events, where millions of devotees come together for a special event.
In February, at least 18 people were killed and over 10 were injured in a stampede at a railway station in New Delhi, as crowds rushed to catch trains to the world's largest religious congregation, the Maha Kumbh Mela.
In July last year, over 100 people were crushed to death in a stampede at a Hindu religious gathering in Mughalghari village in the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh in northern India.
This is a developing story. More to follow…