Bengaluru Stampede: BCCI Forms Three-Member Panel To Prevent Such Lethal Incidents

The Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) apex council has on Saturday (June 14, 2025) appointed a three-member committee, led by its secretary Devajit Saikia, to establish guidelines aimed at preventing incidents like the recent Bengaluru stampede during the Indian Premier League 2025 victory celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and treasurer Prabhtej Singh Bhatia are the other two members of the panel, which will form the guidelines within 15 days.

“In light of the incident that occurred during the victory celebrations in Bengaluru, the Apex Council has decided to constitute a committee to formulate comprehensive guidelines aimed at preventing such occurrences in the future,” the BCCI said in a media release.

On June 4, the day after RCB won their maiden IPL title, 11 fans died and 56 others were injured due to a stampede as around 2.5 lakh people thronged the city centre near M Chinnaswamy stadium to take part in a fan engagement programme organised by the franchise. The Karnataka High Court had also formed a single judge (retired) commission to investigate the matter as FIRs have been registered against RCB and the state cricket association.

The apex council members also expressed “profound grief” over the tragic airplane crash in Ahmedabad which led to the death of nearly 270 passengers, besides paying homage to the victims of the Bengaluru stampede.

The council also decided to establish a working group comprising five 'Umpire Coaches' to oversee the development of umpires and enhance their on-field performance. “These five ‘Umpire Coaches’ must possess international umpiring experience and have served as former umpires,” the release added.

Similarly, the BCCI also decided to constitute a working group of three match referees for monitoring the development of referees and providing them with opportunities to improve their performance in matches.

(With PTI inputs)