Bengaluru: A tragic stampede occurred in Bengaluru on Wednesday as massive crowds gathered to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory. The incident took place during a victory parade that saw “hundreds of thousands” flood the streets, leading to chaos and fatalities. While local media reported up to 11 deaths, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the exact number was yet to be confirmed.

Visuals showed overwhelmed police struggling to manage the crowd, with officers seen carrying fainted children and individuals gasping for air. Shivakumar expressed deep sorrow, stating, “The tragedy and death have brought deep pain and shock,” and apologized for the mismanagement, adding that the crowd had become uncontrollable despite efforts.

Despite the unfolding tragedy, the celebration continued inside the stadium, where players including Virat Kohli greeted fans. IPL and BCCI officials later expressed condolences, admitting they were unaware of the stampede during the event. “No one imagined that such a huge crowd would turn up,” said BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla.