'I do not think we should have road shows' - Gautam Gambhir on Bengaluru stampede

India head coach Gautam Gambhir expressed deep sorrow over the tragic stampede that occurred in Bengaluru during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory celebrations on June 4. The incident claimed 11 lives and left several others injured, marking it as one of the darkest days for the city.

Gambhir called the incident tragic and strongly advised against organizing roadshows in the future. He emphasized that everyone involved must take responsibility and that every life matters. He stated that if we are not prepared to manage a roadshow safely, we simply should not conduct one.

“I do not think we should have road shows. In the future, we can be more sure about this. My heart goes out to the people who lost their lives. We are all equally responsible for this. All I can say is, we need to be responsible. Every life matters. If we are not ready to hold a road show, we should not do that. You cannot lose 11 people,” said Gambhir in a press conference.

After their IPL 2025 title win against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Ahmedabad, RCB planned a celebratory roadshow in Bengaluru. However, with lakhs of fans gathering across the streets and around the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the situation quickly spiraled out of control due to inadequate police presence and a lack of proper planning. What began as a celebration tragically turned into a stampede, resulting in the loss of lives and injuries.

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RCB issued an official statement on their social media platforms, expressing deep sorrow over the incident. They acknowledged the tragic loss of lives and the pain endured by their fans. The franchise announced financial assistance of INR 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased.

"The unfortunate incident in Bengaluru yesterday has caused a lot of anguish and pain to the RCB family. As a mark of respect and a gesture of solidarity, RCB has announced financial support of INR 10 lakh to each of the eleven families of the deceased," the IPL franchise said on their X handle.