BCCI takes big action on Bengaluru stampede, forms three-member committee to formulate guidelines for victory celebration

The joyous maiden IPL victory celebration of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was tragically overshadowed by a stampede that occurred outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, resulting in the loss of 11 lives. In addition to this devastating loss, thirty-three other individuals sustained injuries during the incident. Recognizing the severity of this event, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken immediate action by deciding to establish a three-member committee. This committee will be responsible for developing comprehensive guidelines aimed at preventing such unfortunate occurrences in the future.

BCCI's strong measures following Bengaluru stampede

The three-member committee appointed by the BCCI comprises the board's secretary, Devajit Saikia, the vice-president, Rajeev Shukla, and the treasurer, Prabhtej Bhatia. Devajit Saikia will serve as the chairman of this committee. The task of formulating the guidelines for victory celebrations is expected to be completed within the next 15 days. This significant decision was made during the board's Apex Council Meeting held on Saturday, June 14th, 2025.

“The Apex Council expressed its profound grief over the tragic incidents in Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, which led to the unfortunate loss of innocent lives. The committee will formulate the guidelines within 15 days,” BCCI's official release stated.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched their maiden IPL title in the 2025 edition by defeating Punjab Kings in a thrilling final match by six runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Following this historic victory in the T20 tournament, Virat Kohli announced publicly that the franchise would hold grand victory celebrations in their home city of Bengaluru to share their joy with the fans.

However, RCB faced considerable criticism for organizing the victory celebrations in what was perceived by some as a hasty manner. In the aftermath of the tragic stampede, Nikhil Sosale, the head of marketing and revenue for RCB, was arrested. While he was subsequently granted interim bail after a few days, he was required to surrender his passport and was barred from international travel during this period.

Further legal repercussions followed the incident as the Karnataka Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against several entities, including the Karnataka Cricket Board Administrative Committee and RCB, in connection with the stampede that led to the unfortunate loss of lives and injuries.

The unfortunate incident in Bengaluru unfolded during a public celebration organized to mark RCB's long-awaited maiden IPL victory, which came after a span of eighteen years. A sudden and overwhelming surge in the crowd at the stadium gates led to a tragic stampede. This event has raised concerns about the need for crowd management strategies and meticulous event planning, especially for occasions that draw such large gatherings.

The guidelines that the BCCI's committee is expected to formulate will likely encompass various critical aspects of event management. These may include stringent crowd control measures, carefully considered stadium capacity restrictions to prevent overcrowding, clearly defined emergency protocols to handle unforeseen situations, and enhanced coordination with local authorities to ensure a unified and effective response.