Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have announced financial aid of Rs 25 lakh for the families of each of the 11 fans who lost their lives in the stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on 4 June 2025. The announcement was made on Saturday through the franchise’s official accounts on X and Instagram, under their newly launched social initiative, RCB Cares.
The stampede, which occurred during RCB’s title celebrations, remains one of the darkest moments in the city’s sporting history. Thousands of jubilant fans had gathered outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium, less than 24 hours after RCB had won their maiden IPL title by defeating Punjab Kings in the final in Ahmedabad. But the joy quickly turned into chaos as uncontrolled crowds surged towards the stadium gates, leaving 11 dead and more than 50 injured.
Eighty-four days later, RCB have stepped forward with a more substantial compensation package. In a deeply emotional message, the franchise reflected on the magnitude of the tragedy.
“Our hearts broke on June 4, 2025. We lost eleven members of the RCB family. They were part of us. Part of what makes our city, our community & our team unique. Their absence will echo in the memories of each one of us.”
“No amount of support can ever fill the space they’ve left behind. But as a first step, and with the deepest respect, RCB has extended ?25 lakh each to their families. Not just as financial aid, but as a promise of compassion, unity, and ongoing care.”
“This is also the beginning of RCB CARES: a long-term commitment for meaningful action that begins by honouring their memory. Every step forward will reflect what the fans feel, expect, and deserve.”
The statement represents a significant increase from RCB’s initial announcement in June, when the franchise had pledged ?10 lakh to the bereaved families and support for the injured through the creation of an RCB Cares fund. At the time, critics had accused the team of offering “damage control” rather than genuine compassion, as public anger over the tragedy mounted.
The Karnataka government directly held RCB responsible for the lapses in crowd management, while a Commission of Inquiry later deemed the Chinnaswamy Stadium unsafe for hosting mass gatherings. According to ESPNcricinfo, the report highlighted that the venue’s “design and structure” were “unsuitable and unsafe” for such large-scale events.
In the days immediately following the stampede, RCB had issued only a short condolence message. For many fans, the silence in the weeks that followed hurt more than the tragedy itself. It was seen as abandonment during their darkest hour, with the franchise accused of prioritising its victory celebrations over the loss of life.
Now, three months on, RCB’s move to enhance compensation and formally launch RCB Cares is seen as an attempt at redemption. The initiative, according to the franchise, will extend beyond one-off financial support and focus on long-term action in memory of those who lost their lives.
The tragedy has left a permanent scar on RCB’s first-ever IPL triumph. On 3 June 2025, at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, Faf du Plessis’ men ended a 19-year wait by lifting the trophy with a six-run win over Punjab Kings. But by the following day, the euphoria was replaced with mourning, as images of grieving families and chaotic scenes outside Chinnaswamy flooded television screens across the nation.
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