RCB break silence after stampede, launch an initiative to honour and heal fans

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Thursday ended their three-month silence on social media with an emotional message addressed to their fans - the self-styled "12th Man Army" - while announcing the launch of "RCB Cares," an initiative aimed at honouring supporters and assisting families affected by the stampede that marred the team's title celebrations in June.

The tragedy occurred on 4 June 2025, when thousands gathered outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to celebrate RCB's maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) triumph. Eleven people lost their lives, and 56 others were injured in the crush, even as festivities continued inside the venue. The contrast drew widespread outrage, with the franchise facing heavy criticism for its muted response.

In the aftermath, RCB announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for each of the deceased families and launched the “RCB Cares” fund to support injured fans and provide medical assistance. These measures were presented as a way to reaffirm the club’s solidarity with its supporters in a time of grief.

The Karnataka state government also placed responsibility for the incident on RCB, further fuelling public anger. While the franchise had issued a brief statement of condolence immediately after the tragedy, their prolonged silence remained a source of mounting scrutiny.

On Thursday, RCB returned to Instagram with a candid post, acknowledging the grief and unveiling their new initiative: "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.