In the wake of the tragic stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL title celebration that claimed 11 lives and left over 50 injured, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to implement strict rules governing post-IPL celebrations and road parades.
Speaking exclusively to India Today, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the board is treating this matter with utmost seriousness and is “taking every aspect of risk very seriously to avoid any future mishaps.” Saikia added that formalised guidelines will now be mandatory for all teams wishing to celebrate publicly after the IPL.
Although the BCCI had earlier distanced itself from the Bengaluru incident, saying it had no role in organising the event, the board has since formed a three-member committee to draft and implement safety protocols for future celebrations. The move comes amid rising public concern and criticism after the chaotic scenes in Bengaluru.
New BCCI rules for IPL victory celebrations
To ensure public safety and accountability in the aftermath of the RCB stampede, the BCCI has proposed the following guidelines:
- No team will be allowed to hold celebrations within 3-4 days of winning the title.
- Quick turnarounds will not be permitted to avoid rushed and poorly managed events.
- Teams must seek formal permission from BCCI before organising any celebration.
- No events can be held without prior written clearance from the board.
- Mandatory 4 to 5-tier security protocols
- Multi-layered security presence will be essential at all venues and during transit.
- Security arrangements must cover team movement from airport to event venue.
- Ensuring full protection for players and staff throughout the event schedule.
- Permission must be obtained from district police, state government, and local authorities
- All celebrations must be greenlit by civic and law enforcement bodies to proceed legally and safely.
What happened at the RCB celebration in Bengaluru?
RCB’s maiden IPL title sparked immense celebrations in Bengaluru. On June 4, the team brought the trophy home to a hero’s welcome. They were first felicitated by Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah at the Vidhana Soudha, followed by plans for a fan event at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Despite the Bengaluru Traffic Police denying permission for a celebratory bus parade due to anticipated congestion, the franchise announced the event publicly. Though the parade was ultimately cancelled, over two lakh fans had already gathered in the area by evening—far exceeding the stadium’s capacity. The result was utter chaos, leading to a stampede outside the gates.
The event, hastily arranged just a day after the IPL final, was criticised for poor planning and lack of coordination. Several were injured and 11 tragically lost their lives. Following the incident:
- RCB’s Head of Marketing and two DNA Entertainment officials were arrested.
- KSCA’s Secretary and Treasurer resigned, taking moral responsibility.
The Karnataka government held both RCB and BCCI accountable, citing severe lapses in security and crowd control.
With these new measures, the BCCI aims to avoid any repeat of the Bengaluru tragedy. As Saikia stated, the board will no longer tolerate loosely planned celebrations that put lives at risk.
