Devajit Saikia, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has expressed condolences following the terrible Bengaluru stampede, which reportedly killed 11 people and injured 33 others outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The terrible incidence happened during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)’s IPL 2025 celebrations, a day after their final victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS), outside the stadium on Wednesday, June 4. It was their first IPL title in their 18-year history.
According to Saikia, the organizers’ lack of basic planning contributed to the disaster. He gave examples of how Kolkata and Mumbai handled the IPL and T20 World Cup parades last year.
Devajit Saikia informed PTI (via Indian Express):
“It is very unfortunate. This is a negative side of popularity. People are crazy for their cricketers. The organisers should have planned it better. My deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. I wish early recovery of the injured.”
Devajit Saikia
He continued:
“When one organises a victory celebration of this magnitude, proper precautions, safety, and security measures need to be taken. There have been some lapses somewhere. After such a glorious ending to the IPL, this has been an anti climax. There have been IPL celebrations in the past as well, like in Kolkata last year when KKR won but nothing happened there.”
Devajit Saikia
“Same was the case when we won the T20 World Cup. There was a sea of humanity in Mumbai, but nothing happened. Police and local authorities worked in tandem to ensure smooth conduct. I hope nothing more untoward happens.”
Devajit Saikia
He also discussed how the BCCI handled everything properly at the IPL 2025 final on Tuesday, June 3, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
“Even yesterday in Ahmedabad, during the IPL final, there were 120,000 people at the stadium, but BCCI has a dedicated team which has done elaborate planning in coordination with local district administration and law enforcing authorities to ensure that safety and security of the spectators.”
Devajit Saikia
IPL chairman Arun Dhumal distances BCCI from RCB celebration chaos
Arun Dhumal, IPL chairman, emphasized that the BCCI had nothing to do with the celebrations. While offering his sympathies to the departed families, he stated that the authorities had no knowledge of the bad circumstances outside the venue.
Dhumal told PTI (via the Indian Express):
“Whatever inquiry that needs to be done, the concerned authorities will do that. It was not a BCCI event. It is sad and tragic. The celebrations turned into a tragedy. Our heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loves one.”“I am not even aware whether there was a planned event or unplanned event. Whether fans were supposed to come or they came on their own. When I spoke to the RCB officials, there was so much of noise inside the stadium they probably did not know what was happening outside. When I told them about it, they assured me they would wind up the event.”
Arun Dhumal
𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗿𝘂
We are deeply anguished by the unfortunate incidents that have come to light through media reports regarding public gatherings all over Bengaluru in anticipation of the team’s arrival this… pic.twitter.com/C0RsCUzKtQ
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) June 4, 2025Dhumal, like Saikia, described how the officials kept things under control during a suspended game between PBKS and Delhi Capitals (PBKS) at Dharamsala last month. He said:
“We curtailed a game in Dharamsala (during IPL), we made sure everyone was evacuated safely. Not even person was hurt there.”
Arun Dhumal
After the incident, a planned victory lap outside the venue was canceled.
