'RCB Cares' fund to give 10 lakhs each to stampede victims' kin

In a gesture of solidarity and grief, Royal Challengers Bengaluru has announced ₹10 lakh compensation for each of the families of the 11 people who lost their lives in the tragic stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The chaos unfolded during the team’s IPL victory celebration on June 4, when an uncontrollable crowd gathered far beyond the stadium’s capacity.

The team also launched a special support initiative named ‘RCB Cares’, aimed at assisting the nearly 50 injured fans. The franchise acknowledged that the incident caused “anguish and pain” and stressed that their fans will always be central to their identity.

The felicitation event, meant only for pass-holders, witnessed an unexpected surge as over two lakh supporters arrived. The overwhelming crowd led to a deadly crush near the stadium gates. The event was ultimately cut short to just 20 minutes once authorities were alerted to the tragedy outside.

Players and staff, including Virat Kohli, Andy Flower, and Dinesh Karthik, expressed deep sorrow. Sporting legends like AB de Villiers and others also offered condolences. As the city mourns, RCB’s move brings some solace to grieving families and fans injured in the horrific incident.