Why stampede happens and what to do if one gets trapped in such situations?

What is a stampede?

To understand why a stampede happens, one must understand what a stampede actually is.

A stampede occurs when a large group of people or animals run quickly and uncontrollably in the same direction, sometimes causing grave injuries.

It often happens when there are more people and less space, or when many people try to leave a large crowd at once, leading to pushing and violence.

The Bengaluru Stampede

After RCB won their first ever IPL trophy by defeating PBKS in the final on Tuesday, the winning team announced a victory parade the very next day on Wednesday. It would include a recognition ceremony at Vidhan Soudha and then an open-bus parade to Chinnaswamy Stadium.

But by afternoon, traffic police and Karnataka’s Home Minister said that the parade was cancelled, with G. Parameshwara mentioning security reasons.

But soon RCB handle posted that the victory parade will start at 5pm.

🚨 RCB Victory Parade: Today at 5 pm IST. ‼️

Victory Parade will be followed by celebrations at the Chinnaswamy stadium.

We request all fans to follow guidelines set by police and other authorities, so that everyone can enjoy the roadshow peacefully.

Free passes (limited… pic.twitter.com/raJMXlop5O

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) June 4, 2025

Even before the clock hit 5, the streets near the stadium and Vidhan Soudha were crowded. And the number of people just kept on increasing. Stampede broke out at around 4pm. 11 died, from a 13 year old to a 40 year old. Many others were injured.

Eyewitnesses said that many people tried to enter the stadium without passes.

What could have been the cause?

Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said one of the reasons was that while the Chinnaswamy stadium had the capacity to hold an estimated 35,000 people more than 2 lakh people turned up. The CM later announced that the injured would get free treatment.

Another reason could also be that the fans refused to heed the police’s words while they tried to control the situation.

The confusion over the victory parade also contributed to the stampede.

There was overcrowding, as people tried to push each other to enter the stadium, going as far as climbing over the gates in desperation.

Why do stampedes happen?

Stampedes mostly occur due to overcrowding, lack of planning or preparation, limited space, lack of trained personnel to control the crowd, high density and more.

Overcrowding may cause panic, and not enough space to walk comfortably may lead people to push each other

Lack of preparation or planning may lead the crowd into a frenzy and cause a stampede. For example, RCB’s victory parade was scheduled the very next day of them winning the cup. We must wonder if maybe things would have been different if it was scheduled a few days after their victory, once the excitement had died down, even if it was just a little bit.

Limited space causes people to push each other to make space for themselves.

There are also times when there isn’t someone to control the crowd, or they are unable to. This is what happened in Bengaluru on Wednesday. The police weren’t able to control the crowd, and the crowd also refused to acknowledge the former’s words.

When people are packed together in a high density, it may lead to pushing.

What can one do if they are stuck in a stampede?

If you enter a crowded venue, try making a map in your mind of all the exits.

If stuck in a stampede, move along the direction of the crowd, not against it.

Don’t turn around or bend over if you drop something. That would increase the chances of you falling down and stomped over.

If movements in the crowd become chaotic, try to find an elevated space (like the top of a car) and climb it. You will be much safer then.

Avoid leaning on walls or metal structures, since they can crush due to the pressure of the stampede.

Get into a boxer position. Arms in front you to create some space. Keep your ribcage from being compressed, or you won’t be able to breathe.

If you fall and cannot get up, curl up. Bring your knees up to your chest and wrap your hands around your head and neck.

If authorities are present, try to stay calm and follow their instructions.