'Silence wasn’t absence. It was grief': RCB breaks silence after Bengaluru stampede tragedy; launches ‘RCB Cares’ initiative

NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have issued a statement nearly three months after the deadly stampede at the Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives during the team’s victory celebrations. In a heartfelt note addressed to their supporters — the “12th Man Army” — the franchise said the silence since June 4 was not absence but grief. “That day broke our hearts, and the silence since then has been our way of holding space,” the statement read.

RCB said the tragedy had prompted the creation of RCB Cares, a platform aimed at healing and meaningful action shaped by its community of fans. “We return to this space today, not with celebration but with care… to stand with you, to walk forward, together,” the franchise said.

The silence wasn’t absence. It was grief: RCB“Dear 12th Man Army, this is our heartfelt letter to you! It’s been close to three months since we last posted here. The silence wasn’t absence. It was grief. This space was once filled with energy, memories and moments that you enjoyed the most. But June 4th changed everything. That day broke our hearts, and the silence since then has been our way of holding space. In that silence, we’ve been grieving. Listening. Learning.

And slowly, we’ve begun to build something more than just a response. Something we truly believe in. That’s how RCB CARES came to life. It grew out of a need to honour, to heal, and to stand beside our fans. A platform for meaningful action shaped by our community and fans. We return to this space today, not with celebration but with care. To share. To stand with you. To walk forward, together. To continue being the pride of Karnataka.”The June 4 tragedy The stampede occurred when thousands of fans gathered at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to celebrate RCB’s maiden IPL title. What began as euphoric celebrations quickly turned into one of the worst fan-related disasters in Indian cricket. Crowds swelled beyond control near Gate 7 of the stadium as supporters tried to force their way in. Many collapsed due to suffocation in the crush. Eleven people were killed, including teenagers and young adults, while at least 75 others were injured. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and confusion, with little clarity on entry gates and inadequate security arrangements. Although more than 1,500 police personnel were deployed, officers admitted they were overwhelmed by the size of the crowd.

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah called the incident “deeply shocking”, saying a moment of joy had been eclipsed by sorrow. He announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of each of the victims and free treatment for the injured. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) separately pledged ₹5 lakh per bereaved family. However, senior police officials later said the state government had been warned about the risks of holding a large-scale celebration at such short notice, hours after the team returned from Ahmedabad with the IPL trophy.