At least 11 people lost their lives on Wednesday (June 4) in a crowd surge outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where fans were celebrating Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first Indian Premier League (IPL) title victory, officials reported. Thousands gathered along the streets surrounding the stadium, many waving the team’s red flags. Some fans climbed trees and the stadium walls for a better view as the team arrived by bus in the evening, according to TV footage.

During the celebrations, people without passes attempted to force their way through gates, causing disturbances between the stadium perimeter and the main arena, police said. Videos showed individuals climbing over others amid the chaos. Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed that 11 people died and 47 were injured in the incident. He expressed sorrow over the tragedy, noting that the large turnout exceeded expectations during what was meant to be a joyous occasion.

Footage showed police officers carrying injured spectators to ambulances and others receiving CPR on the ground. The crowd became uncontrollable after police began using batons at one entrance, which further escalated the disorder, said Mithun Singh, a software engineer present at the scene. Naseer Ahmed, political secretary to the Chief Minister, told NDTV that authorities struggled to manage the crowd due to inadequate arrangements.

Although the team distributed free passes online with a warning about limited availability, thousands still showed up. The Bengaluru metro suspended services near the stadium, but the celebration inside continued despite the chaos outside. India has experienced similar crowd disasters before, especially during large religious gatherings. For example, at least 30 people died in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh festival in January, when millions gathered for a holy dip. The celebrations were held after Bengaluru defeated Punjab Kings in the final match of the IPL’s 18th season, which is the world’s wealthiest cricket league.