The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has formed a three-member panel to create safety guidelines for post-match celebrations, following the tragic stampede outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives. The incident occurred on June 4, when an overwhelming crowd gathered to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden IPL title win.
Led by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, with vice-president Rajeev Shukla and treasurer Prabhtej Singh Bhatia as members, the committee has been tasked with drafting the norms within 15 days. The decision was made during the board’s recent Apex Council meeting.
“In light of the incident that occurred during the victory celebrations in Bengaluru, the Apex Council has decided to constitute a committee to formulate comprehensive guidelines aimed at preventing such occurrences in the future,” read a statement from the BCCI.
The celebrations, hastily organised a day after the final, drew an estimated two lakh fans despite the stadium’s limited capacity. Though a parade from Vidhana Soudha was eventually cancelled, fans had already flooded the area, leading to chaos and a deadly stampede. The event went ahead despite traffic police warnings and no formal permission, drawing sharp criticism towards RCB, their event partners, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association.
In the aftermath, arrests were made, including RCB’s head of marketing and two DNA Entertainment officials. KSCA’s secretary and treasurer also stepped down, taking moral responsibility. The state government has since held both RCB and the BCCI accountable, citing lapses in planning and crowd management.
