Bengaluru stampede: How lack of readability on social media left RCB followers confused

Footwear mendacity outdoors Chinnaswamy stadium after a stampede wherein 11 individuals died throughout Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)‘s victory celebrations, in Bengaluru on June 4, 2025.

Bengaluru

Of the numerous issues that went incorrect on June 4, when the stampede occurred in the course of the victory celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), tragically killing 11 individuals, an important one was evident gaps in social media communication. All through the day, numerous updates that had been put out by the social media web page of RCB conflicted with the communication supplied by the Bengaluru Metropolis Police (BCP) and Bengaluru Site visitors Police (BTP), resulting in confusion amongst followers. 

“Once I awoke, I noticed that RCB had introduced a victory parade and determined that I’d take part in it. In a couple of hours, I noticed once more on social media that the police had denied permission for the parade. A couple of minutes later, there have been clips that confirmed the bus that was supposed for use for the parade being adorned and even interviews with the crew of the bus. The RCB account additionally introduced shortly after that the parade was again on, and therefore, I got here close to the stadium,” stated Nisarga Shivakumar, who was close to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium June 4. 

Lengthy-held fantasy

For a few years now, each time a picture of an enormous crowd of a giant soccer membership’s followers or a live performance popped up on social media, RCB followers would share these photographs with the captions “Majestic when RCB wins” or “Bengaluru streets when RCB wins”. So, the thought of a crowd gathering for a victory celebration had lengthy been on followers’ thoughts within the occasion of RCB profitable the ultimate. This fantasy, coupled with RCB’s bulletins, led followers to imagine {that a} victory parade was undoubtedly going to happen.  

The police division’s try to tell the general public that there won’t be a parade didn’t show efficient regardless of the House Minister himself talking on tv channels and saying that there will probably be no parade. 

The BCP’s official X account didn’t publish any particulars concerning the occasions that will probably be held, or won’t be held, on June 4, whereas the BTP posted that there will probably be a particular felicitation ceremony within the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and solely these with tickets or passes can be let inside, by 2.44 p.m.

Considerably, round 3 p.m., RCB but once more stated that the victory parade was again on. 

Why the messaging concerning the parade by RCB reached extra folks isn’t laborious to inform: The official X account of BTP has 6.885 lakh followers, whereas the official X account of RCB has 75 lakh followers.

Lack of readability

“It’s not simply that the RCB account had greater attain, it’s that they had been nonetheless not clear with their communication. This was not the primary time they had been doing a giant occasion. They’ve beforehand performed Unboxing occasions wherein all of the star gamers are current. Their communication had at all times been clear throughout that occasion, that solely those that purchased tickets prematurely might go and the remaining might pay a small quantity and watch it on YouTube. However on June 4, the media workforce first didn’t say the place the tickets for the occasion had been accessible. They later stated that it will be accessible on the web site, however by then, there have been already many rumours on social media,” defined Praveen Shetty, a long-time RCB fan. 

He defined that there have been rumours that the RCB Fan Military had been given a sure variety of tickets, and these might be collected by those that attain the stadium early. “This may also be why many gathered close to the stadium from midday itself,” Mr. Shetty added. 

Numbers and duty

Priyank Kharge, Minister of Data Know-how and Biotechnology (IT & BT) admitted that the State Authorities, RCB, KSCA, the police and the followers might all have executed one thing higher that day. “The largest problem for safety proper now could be social media as folks are likely to imagine no matter they see on their social media feeds. For this reason establishments with massive followings ought to have readability of their messaging. The police, on that day, might have clearly stated that it will be tough to deal with the group; the RCB account might have knowledgeable the followers clearly about stadium capability and prevented overcrowding,” he stated.