Averting Disasters

One of the biggest challenges in crowd management in India is the absence of strong regulatory frameworks. To prevent future tragedies, India needs a robust policy framework that institutionalizes crowd management at all levels. A centralized body, possibly under the National Disaster Management Authority, should be established to research, develop, and implement crowd management guidelines. Event organizers should be required to submit comprehensive crowd control plans as part of the approval process, and real-time crowd monitoring should be made mandatory for religious events, festivals, and mass gatherings.

- AMAL CHANDRA The writer is a policy analyst, columnist and author of 'The Essential'

On 15 February 2025, a tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station claimed the lives of at least 18 people and left many others critically injured.

The incident followed closely on the heels of another catastrophe at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, where over 30 people perished.

These back-to-back disasters have once again exposed the glaring gaps in India's crowd management, raising urgent questions about public safety and administrative preparedness.

Mass gatherings are intrinsic to Indian culture – whether for religious events, political campaigns, or daily commuter traffic at transit hubs.

However, frequent tragedies due to mismanagement, lack of planning, and infrastructural shortcomings show that lessons from past disasters are not leading to effective actions.

Despite recurring disasters, authorities continue to depend on short-term solutions rather than addressing underlying systemic vulnerabilities.

To prevent future calamities, it is imperative to move beyond reactive measures and adopt proactive, sustainable, and technology-driven crowd management strategies.

India has a long history of stampedes at religious gatherings, railway stations, and public events.

Over the past two decades, hundreds of people have lost their lives in such incidents.

The Kumbh Mela, one of the world's largest religious gatherings, has witnessed multiple fatal stampedes, including the 1954 Allahabad tragedy which resulted in over 800 deaths.

Similarly, railway stations – especially those in major cities – frequently experience overcrowding, leading to chaos and tragedy.

A 2013 stampede at Ratangarh Temple in Madhya Pradesh killed over 115 devotees, and in 2011, a tragedy at Sabarimala in Kerala claimed more than 100 lives.