Recently instances of stampede have occurred in Maha Kumbh (Prayagraj) and Delhi railway station which left several dead and injured. Stampede is the disruption of the orderly movement of crowds due to perceived danger, loss of physical space, or will to attain something as gratifying, which eventually results in trampling suffocation, and fatalities. Here, we have a detailed overview of the Stampede Disasters and their Management in India.
Some Notable Deadly Stampede Disasters in India
1. Allahabad Kumbh Mela Stampede (1954)
2. Wai Stampede (2005)
3. Mumbai Pedestrian Bridge Stampede (2017)
4. Hathras Stampede (2024)
Stampede Statistics In India
According to the National Crime Records Bureau figures, from 2000 to 2013, almost 2,000 people died in stampedes in India.
A 2013 study published by the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction (IJDRR) points out that religious gatherings as well as pilgrimages have been venues for 79% of the stampede disasters in India.
Major Causes of Stampedes in India
1. Structural Causes:
- Structural collapse of makeshift bridges, railings, and temporary structures.
- Improper and unauthorized built structures, also
- The railings of the bridge collapsed due to panic triggered by rumours.
2. Fire/Electricity causes:
- Fire in a makeshift facility or a shop, and illegal and unauthorized structures.
- Non-availability of fire extinguishers in working condition, and
- Illegal electric connections and faulty electric equipment.
3. Crowd Behaviour:
- Rush during the distribution of disaster relief supplies.
- A large (much more than expected) anxious and competitive crowd gathering at promotional events, moreover
- Unruly and irresponsible crowd behaviour.
4. Security Issues
- Security Personnel: Under deployment of security staff and deployment of untrained staff.
- Surveillance: Lack of adequate observation towers along with proper wireless communication to monitor and regulate crowds.
- Infrastructure: Lack of adequate road opening parties to secure the routes.
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The impact of these Stampedes
1. Trauma and Loss: Witnessing resultant deaths and injuries causes immense trauma, especially for those who lost loved ones. For the Deadly stampede that killed 121 people in Hathras.
2. Economic Hardship: The majority of victims in such stampedes come from lower castes and poor backgrounds. So, their deaths leave families without primary breadwinners, causing economic hardship in the community.
3. Erosion of Trust- Repeated stampede disasters due to similar failures further undermine faith in the ability of organizers to keep devotees safe. For ex– Gross negligence like poor planning, with insufficient exits, inadequate crowd control, and lack of emergency preparedness, by organizers and authorities certainly erodes trust in religious institutions.
4. Loss of Social and Human Capital: Many young children as well as women are victims of these stampede tragedies. This leads to the loss of the productive social and human capital of the country.
What are the NDMA Guidelines for the Prevention of Stampedes in India?
1. Understanding venue, visitors, and stakeholders: It requires an understanding of the type of event, crowd motives, the venue, the role of stakeholders, etc.
2. Crowd Handling: It requires proper regulation of traffic emergency exit route maps, barricade facilities, etc.
3. Safety and Security: It requires authorized use of electricity, use of CCTV cameras, and use of mini UAVs in case of big crowd rush.
4. Role of Event Managers: Managers should develop, implement, review, and revise the disaster management plan as per the requirements.
5. Role of police: The police should actively participate in venue assessment and preparedness checks and guide crowd and traffic movements.
6. Capacity Building: Capacity building, conduction of drills, and periodic assessment of training of security personnel, and police are certainly essential to prevent crowd disasters.
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Challenges in the implementation of these Guidelines?
1. Lack of adoption and implementation: The state governments as well as local authorities haven’t yet properly implemented the NDMA guidelines on crowd management.
2. Rapidly rising population: Due to population rise, urban areas have become more susceptible along with places of frequent mass gatherings like temples.
3. Greater tolerance to crowd: Psychologists observed, that there is a very high tolerance for crowded places in India because Indians don’t feel uncomfortable until it’s very packed.
4. Governance and accountability: Agencies responsible for issuing permissions/licenses for mass gatherings, and events often fail to follow the guidelines and the requirements.
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What Should be the Way Forward?
1. Specialisation and Professionalism: India needs to emphasize effective communication, sensitive on-ground interventions, specialized personnel training, online customer feedback system, to maintain the decorum of the crowd
2. Use of technology: CCTV surveillance along with HD IP cameras with VMS (Video Management Software), mobile control room and drones, and face recognition among crowds should be deployed extensively in crowded places.
3. Capacity Evaluation: There should be a proper evaluation of the capacity of a location or structure before holding mass gatherings. Existing infrastructural problems should be addressed to avoid mishaps.
4. Crowd Behaviour Management: Every mass event must have a public address system for the officials to stop rumours from getting out of hand, in addition, to calming panicking crowds, and helping people exit systematically.
5. Penalties: Stricter penalties, and revocation of licenses for construction/fire safety violations along with raids and inspections, must be adopted.
6. Learning from Global Best Practices: The lessons of Global Best Practices must be adopted for effective management of Stampedes in India. For example, Crowd management during the Haj Pilgrimage in Makkah.
Conclusion:
As per the NDMA, “Prevention is better than cure.” Proactive crowd management, technology integration, and strict regulation are crucial to preventing future stampedes. Effective policy implementation and coordination can also save lives and ensure safer public gatherings.