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Dinesh Karthik on left and An ambulance arrives at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium . (FILE photo)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their first Indian Premier League title earlier this year. Although till that point they have not won a title, they had had one of the most followed fan bases in the country, and after their title, the franchise has decided to organise a victory parade, which ended up in a tragic stampede, as 11 people died in the incident. The franchise’s batting coach, Dinesh Karthik, recalled his first reactions when the incident took place.
“We were in Bangalore. You have got to understand that we were told to go to an event and when we got there we were sent back. I don’t even understand what had happened. It was beyond us,” he recalled speaking to the India Today.
“We are just sportsmen who are playing this sport. When something like this happens, you just don’t know how to react,” he said. “My first instinct when I was told that people are losing lives… Could it change? I really wish it could,” Karthik added.
“The aftertaste that it left sent us players into radio silence. You know, RCB is such a well-supported franchise. It completely finished whatever our celebrations could have been. It is one of the saddest things that I have seen. I cannot even start to empathise what those parents and families must have gone through. I just hope that in some way we can repay them.”
25 lakhs compensation
Royal Challengers Bengaluru has announced 25 lakhs for the 11 families of the deceased in the stampede of the victory parade on June 4. Earlier, RCB initiated RCB Cares to compensate the victims. “Our hearts broke on June 4, 2025. We lost eleven members of the RCB family. They were part of us. Part of what makes our city, our community & our team unique. Their absence will echo in the memories of each one of us. No amount of support can ever fill the space they’ve left behind. But as a first step, and with the deepest respect, RCB has extended ₹25 lakh each to their families,” RCB Cares said in a statement.
“Not just as financial aid, but as a promise of compassion, unity, and ongoing care. This is also the beginning of 𝗥𝗖𝗕 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗦: a long-term commitment for meaningful action that begins by honouring their memory. Every step forward will reflect what the fans feel, expect, and deserve,” the statement further said.
English (US) ·