The city of Bengaluru was left shaken on Wednesday following a tragic incident that marred what was supposed to be a historic moment for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and their supporters. During the jubilant celebrations of RCB’s first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title triumph in 18 years, a devastating stampede occurred outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium, claiming the lives of 11 individuals and injuring over 30.

Actress Anushka Sharma, who was present alongside her husband and RCB legend Virat Kohli during the victory parade, expressed her grief on social media. Posting to her Instagram Stories, Anushka shared the team’s official condolence note and added a string of broken-heart emojis, reflecting her sorrow over the heartbreaking event.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru team issued an official message responding to the heartbreaking incident, underlining their commitment to the safety of the public. “We are deeply distressed by the unfortunate turn of events that occurred amid the city’s celebration of our win. Ensuring the security and welfare of our supporters is of utmost importance to us,” the statement declared. It also stated that the event schedule was swiftly modified in close consultation with civic and police officials.

Before the tragedy unfolded, Anushka had shared joyful videos from the open-bus parade, showing elated fans and RCB players including Kohli, who was seen holding the trophy with a proud smile. She captioned one story, “Namma Bengaluru current scenes,” capturing the excitement in the city. Another post read, “These smiles have waited so patiently for this moment.”

Regrettably, the open-top victory procession was called off soon after amid rising safety risks. However, the stadium ceremony still went ahead, where Kohli and skipper Rajat Patidar addressed a packed crowd before completing a lap of honour.

In response to the tragic loss, Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered a full magisterial probe into the incident. Both RCB and the Karnataka State Cricket Association have extended their sympathies and announced a ₹25 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased.

What was meant to be a night of celebration turned into one of mourning, leaving the cricket community and the nation deeply shaken.