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Social media users criticized crowd management in Bengaluru after a stampede at Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s victory parade left 11 dead, comparing it to Mumbai’s success.
A split-screen visual going viral on social media shows the large crowd during Mumbai’s World Cup victory celebrations compared with the chaotic scenes from Wednesday’s RCB parade in Bengaluru, where a stampede claimed 11 lives. (IMAGE: X)
As scenes from the stampede at Royal Challengers Bangalore’s victory parade continue to circulate, social media is abuzz with comparisons between crowd management in Bengaluru and Mumbai, comparing the Indian cricket team’s 2024 World Cup celebrations to the stampede outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory parade.
Several users questioned how Mumbai, which hosted large crowds during Team India’s World Cup celebrations, avoided a similar tragedy.
“Today I realised Mumbai handled a ten times bigger crowd than Bengaluru and no innocent life was lost,” wrote one user, tagging the Mumbai Police with salute and folded hands emojis. “We all should value life. No game celebration is bigger than our lives.”
Another user echoed the sentiment, asking, “How did Mumbai manage celebrations five times without any mishap, while Bengaluru couldn’t handle even one?” The post blamed the Karnataka Congress government, district administration and police for the stampede, calling it a “complete failure” in governance.
How did Mumbai managed the celebration 5 times without any mishap while Bengaluru couldn’t manage a single celebration . This is complete failure of the Karnataka Congress govt and the #Bengaluru district administration and police. Also , the public should be equally blamed ,… pic.twitter.com/tlvXGp3FsN
— Amitabh Chaudhary (@MithilaWaala) June 4, 2025
A third user struck a more critical note, saying that “the public should be equally blamed” for turning up in such numbers for “a fixed tournament.” The user added: “This was no Olympic or national achievement, just a franchise league where players, owners and betters make crores.”
Another post drew a broader connection to social frustration, saying, “While unemployment played a role in the Mumbai celebration, the tragic Bengaluru stampede has left many questioning accountability. Despite the devastating loss of lives, no one has stepped forward to take responsibility.”
A third user criticised the public’s role, saying that “the public should be equally blamed” for attending in such numbers for “a fixed tournament.” The user added: “This was no Olympic or national achievement, just a franchise league where players, owners and bettors make crores.”
Another post linked the incident to broader social frustration: “While unemployment played a role in the Mumbai celebration, the tragic Bengaluru stampede has left many questioning accountability. Despite the devastating loss of lives, no one has stepped forward to take responsibility.”
Amid the online outrage, the BJP criticised the state government, accusing them of hastily organising the event without adequate police deployment or planning. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday slammed the Karnataka government for alleged mismanagement of RCB’s IPL victory parade, after a stampede-like situation near Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium left eleven people dead and dozens injured.
Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra said the event lacked adequate preparation and police deployment. “The state government, without any preparedness, should not have organised this today,” he told reporters. “If you saw the World Cup celebrations in Mumbai, it was planned with proper arrangements. Lakhs celebrated in Bengaluru last night. Why hold another event so soon and without preparation?”
Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, echoed the criticism, drawing comparisons with other Indian cities. “It is very saddening. Cities like Mumbai and Kolkata also celebrated their teams’ victories, but what are we seeing here in Bengaluru?”
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed eleven deaths and thirty-three injuries. “More than two to three lakh people came. No one expected this much crowd,” he said during a press conference. He announced a magisterial inquiry and ₹10 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased.
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said the crowd overwhelmed security. “They broke the gates. A lot of stampeding occurred,” he said. “We cancelled the procession from the airport and from Vidhana Soudha due to the overwhelming crowd and rain. Even at the stadium, we instructed the organisers to wind up the event in ten to fifteen minutes.”
He said the venue’s capacity was 35,000, but over two lakh people attended.
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More
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