Introduction

• India has been a witness to countless tragedies over the years due to stampedes during large religious and cultural gatherings. 
• On January 29, 2025, a devastating stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, claimed 30 lives and left over 60 injured. 
• This tragic incident, just one of many in recent months, underscores the recurring issue of stampede disasters in India. Remarkably, 79% of all stampedes in India between 1954 and 2012 have occurred during religious mass gatherings, making it an urgent issue that demands serious attention.

What is a Stampede?

• A stampede refers to a large-scale, chaotic movement of a crowd triggered by panic or a perceived threat, often causing crushing injuries or fatalities.
•  It usually happens when a large number of people are packed into a small area with limited exits, and the crowd is pushed into a sudden rush due to factors such as fear, excitement, or confusion. 
• The rapid and uncontrollable movement of people results in loss of life and severe injuries.

Infamous Stampede Disasters in India

• India’s history of stampede disasters is marked by some shocking incidents, many of which took place during religious or cultural events where millions gather. Below are a few notable cases:
• Allahabad Kumbh Mela Stampede (1954): The deadliest stampede in Kumbh Mela’s history, resulting in approximately 800 deaths.
• Wai Stampede (2005): At the Mandhardevi temple in Maharashtra, 340 people lost their lives in a stampede.
• Naina Devi Temple Stampede (2008): Rumors of a landslide caused panic and triggered a stampede, killing at least 145 people.
• Jodhpur Temple Stampede (2008): The Chamunda Devi Temple stampede took the lives of 168 individuals.
• Allahabad Railway Stampede (2013): A last-minute platform change during the Kumbh Mela triggered panic, leading to 36 deaths.
• Mumbai Pedestrian Bridge Stampede (2017): A stampede on a crowded pedestrian bridge in Mumbai killed 22 people and injured 32.
• Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine (2022): A stampede at this shrine in Jammu and Kashmir left 22 dead and 32 injured.
• Hathras Stampede (2024): On July 2, 2024, a stampede during a religious gathering in Hathras killed 121 people, mostly women.

Causes of Stampedes in India

• Structural Failures: Stampedes often occur due to inadequately designed infrastructure in venues, especially at religious and cultural gatherings. These structural issues can significantly amplify the risk of a disaster. The primary structural causes of stampedes include:
  • Collapsed Makeshift Bridges, Railings, or Temporary Structures: Many religious sites, such as temples, have makeshift or temporary structures like footbridges, barricades, and railings. These structures, often hastily constructed without proper engineering assessments, are unable to withstand the pressure of large crowds. For instance, during the Wai Stampede in 2005 at the Mandhardevi temple in Maharashtra, a makeshift bridge collapsed, causing 340 fatalities.
  • Improperly Constructed or Unauthorized Structures: In many cases, the venues where mass gatherings take place are not designed to accommodate large crowds. Inadequate planning and unauthorized construction of platforms, bridges, and entry points make these venues unsafe. The Naina Devi Temple Stampede in 2008 in Himachal Pradesh, triggered by rumors, resulted in the collapse of railings and caused 145 deaths. Many of these railings were poorly constructed and unable to handle the crowd.
  • Narrow Streets with Few Entry/Exit Points: Overcrowded religious sites often feature narrow streets that lack sufficient entry and exit points. This exacerbates the risk of stampedes, as people struggle to move in and out of the site. During the Allahabad Kumbh Mela Stampede in 1954, narrow pathways at the event site contributed to the chaotic movement of people, leading to over 800 fatalities.
  • Difficult Terrain: Many religious sites, especially those located on hills or in remote areas, present physical challenges that make it difficult for people to move safely. For example, the Chamunda Devi Temple Stampede in 2008 occurred at a temple situated on a hill, where narrow stairways and difficult access routes led to a crush of people.
  • Absence of Emergency Exits: The lack of emergency exits at mass gathering sites can be fatal when a stampede occurs. People often find themselves trapped, unable to escape. In cases like the Jodhpur Temple Stampede in 2008, many victims were unable to exit quickly enough due to inadequate exit points, contributing to the high death toll.

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• Fire and Electricity Hazards: Fires and electrical failures are common causes of panic in crowded areas. 
  • Fires in Unauthorized Structures: Many temporary shops, food stalls, and other infrastructure used during mass gatherings are built without adhering to fire safety standards. In the event of a fire, such structures can quickly collapse, causing widespread panic. For example, during the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Stampede in 2022, a small fire near the gathering site led to a surge in people trying to flee, worsening the stampede.
  • Lack of Fire Extinguishers: Fire extinguishers are often not installed in temporary structures, and in some cases, they may be faulty or outdated. This exacerbates the risk of fires turning deadly. The Hathras Stampede in 2024, which killed 121 people, could have been mitigated if fire safety equipment had been in place and functional.
  • Electrical Failures or Power Outages During Events: A sudden power failure in large gatherings can cause chaos and panic among the crowd. People may perceive the power outage as a threat, leading to mass movement and stampede conditions. Electricity failures at the Allahabad Railway Stampede in 2013 led to sudden panic among thousands of Kumbh Mela attendees, resulting in 36 deaths.
  • Illegal Electric Connections: The use of illegal electrical connections or faulty electrical equipment during large gatherings increases the chances of electrical fires or short circuits, which can trigger stampedes. Lack of regulation and monitoring in these situations makes the event more hazardous.
• Crowd Behavior: Crowd behavior is another critical factor that plays a role in the escalation of stampedes. 
  • Craze: In many religious events, there is a frenzy to touch the feet of a holy figure or to collect sacred items, which leads to overcrowding. The intense rush for spiritual gratification can create chaotic situations. The Hathras Stampede in 2024, which killed 121 people, was partly due to the craze surrounding a preacher, with devotees pushing to touch his feet or collect soil from his path.
  • Unruly Behavior: As crowds grow larger, individuals may become increasingly agitated, leading to pushing, shoving, and attempts to force entry into restricted areas. Such behavior creates bottlenecks that lead to stampedes. The Mumbai Pedestrian Bridge Stampede in 2017 occurred because of crowd pushing, trying to cross the bridge during peak hours, resulting in 22 deaths.
  • Competitive Behavior: At mass events where people are competing for limited resources (such as disaster relief supplies or promotional items), the anxiety and competitive spirit can escalate. 
  • Last-Minute Changes: Sudden, unplanned changes in event schedules or locations, such as platform changes at train stations or alterations to entry points, can create chaos. The Allahabad Railway Stampede in 2013 is a clear example, where the change in platform caused a surge in people moving from one side to another in a rush, contributing to the tragedy.
• Security Issues:  Inadequate security measures and lack of preparedness by law enforcement play a major role in exacerbating the risk of stampedes. Common security-related challenges include:
  • Under-deployment of Security Staff: Often, there aren’t enough security personnel to manage large crowds. 
  • Untrained Personnel in Crowd Control: Many security staff are not adequately trained in handling large crowds or managing panic situations. The lack of crowd management expertise can lead to a chaotic environment. 
  • Lack of Adequate Planning in Managing Crowd Movement: Poor planning in terms of how crowds are directed and how they move through the venue can lead to dangerous congestion. At the Wai Stampede, for instance, the absence of clearly marked pathways led to overcrowding and chaos.
  • Poor Surveillance Systems: In many places, the absence of sufficient CCTV cameras or real-time monitoring systems makes it harder for authorities to detect emerging problems within the crowd. 
• Coordination Gaps Among Stakeholders: Effective coordination between all stakeholders involved in organizing, managing, and securing mass gatherings is essential to prevent disasters. However, India often faces challenges in this regard:
• • Poor Infrastructure Planning and Inadequate Resources: Infrastructure may be planned on paper but lacks the necessary resources for implementation. In some cases, a lack of funds and political will leads to poorly executed plans. This is a common issue during events like the Kumbh Mela, where infrastructure sometimes fails to meet the needs of the massive crowds attending.
  • Communication Delays Between Agencies: Delayed or inadequate communication between various agencies—police, fire services, medical teams, and event organizers—can lead to confusion and mismanagement during emergencies. 
  • Inadequate Provision of Water, Medical Assistance, and Transport Facilities: Often, mass gatherings are marked by inadequate provisions of basic services, which worsens the situation in times of crisis. 

NDMA Guidelines for Stampede Prevention

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has developed a comprehensive framework to prevent stampedes at mass gatherings, particularly at religious venues. Here’s a breakdown of their guidelines:
• Understanding the Event and Crowd: Organizers should have a clear understanding of the event type, the expected crowd size, and the venue’s characteristics. This includes:
• • Type of event (religious, entertainment, etc.)
  • Expected demographics (age, gender, social class)
  • Venue layout (topography, crowd capacity)

• Crowd Handling: Effective crowd management involves:
  • Traffic management: Ensuring smooth flow around the event venue.
  • Route maps: Clear emergency exit routes for easy evacuation.
  • Barricading: Installing barriers to control crowd movement and ensure orderly queues.
  • VIP management: Managing VIP access separately to avoid congestion.
• Safety and Security:
  • Fire safety: Proper fire safety measures, including extinguishers and safe exits.
  • CCTV surveillance: Use of cameras and drones to monitor crowds in real-time. Organisers of the Kumbh Mela are using AI and installing 300 cameras, including drones, to manage crowds and prevent stampedes at the religious festival. 
  • Security personnel: Ensuring adequate, well-trained security staff.
• Communication Systems:
  • Public address systems: Ensuring clear communication with the crowd, especially during emergencies.
  • Emergency alerts: Quick dissemination of vital information to avoid panic.
• Medical and Emergency Care:
  • First-aid stations: Establishing emergency medical facilities on-site.
  • Disaster response teams: Having trained personnel ready to respond to any crisis.
• Role of Civil Society and Police: NGOs and local community organizations should be involved in crowd management, providing medical assistance, sanitation, and traffic control. The police must participate in event assessments and ensure crowd control.
• Role of Media: Media can help educate the public about crowd safety and raise awareness of potential risks. They also play a role in evaluating and critiquing disaster management plans.
• Capacity Building: Regular training and capacity building for event organizers, police, and volunteers is crucial to improve crowd management skills and disaster preparedness.

Challenges in Implementing NDMA Guidelines

• Lack of Adoption: One of the primary challenges in implementing the NDMA guidelines is the lack of adoption and enforcement by local authorities. Despite the guidelines being comprehensive and available, local authorities often fail to fully implement them due to bureaucratic hurdles, lack of awareness, or indifference to crowd safety.
  • According to a report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), nearly 70% of mass gathering events in India, especially during religious festivals, do not fully comply with crowd management regulations set by authorities, contributing to recurring stampedes.
• Urbanization and Population Growth: Rapid urbanization and increasing population density have put considerable pressure on urban spaces, making it more challenging to manage mass gatherings safely.
  • According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, India’s urban population is projected to increase by 30% in the next decade. This surge in urban populations exacerbates the issue of overcrowded public spaces, making effective crowd management a greater challenge.
• Cultural Tolerance of Crowds: Cultural tolerance for crowded spaces in India plays a significant role in underestimating the risks associated with overcrowding. In Indian society, there is a prevalent cultural norm of enduring and tolerating crowded environments, especially during religious or festive events. This leads to complacency when it comes to crowd safety measures.
  • During the 2014 Mahashivaratri festival in Varanasi, thousands of devotees gathered at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Despite overcrowding, the tolerance for tight spaces led to people pushing through to the temple, with several instances of overcrowding going unreported until the situation worsened. 
  • Research conducted by the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction (2013) suggests that in India, more than 80% of people attending large-scale religious gatherings do not perceive overcrowding as a serious risk until a disaster occurs. This cultural tolerance often leads to delayed recognition of the potential dangers.
• Governance Issues: The failure of local authorities to enforce safety regulations, inadequate coordination between agencies, and insufficient accountability often result in disastrous outcomes during mass gatherings.
• • According to a report by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), more than 60% of stampede-related fatalities in India from 2000 to 2015 occurred due to poor enforcement of crowd management guidelines by local authorities. 
• Inadequate Infrastructure and Resources: Mass gatherings often take place in venues with inadequate infrastructure, including poorly designed entry and exit points, insufficient medical facilities, and lack of sanitation. 
  • According to a 2017 report by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, only 43% of major mass gathering sites in India are equipped with basic safety infrastructure such as medical aid stations, surveillance cameras, and proper crowd control barriers. 

 Way Forward

• Legislation: Stronger laws should be passed to hold authorities accountable for crowd safety and liability, as noted in the Supreme Court’s ruling during the Uphaar Cinema tragedy.
• Professionalism and Specialization: Investment in specialized training for security personnel, event managers, and volunteers is vital for effective crowd control.
• Technology: Increased use of technology, such as drones, facial recognition systems, and real-time CCTV monitoring, can significantly improve crowd surveillance and safety.
• Capacity Evaluation: Proper assessment of event venues is necessary to ensure that they can accommodate large crowds safely.
• Crowd Behavior Management: Public address systems must be installed to manage crowds effectively, prevent rumors, and guide people during emergencies.
• Stricter Penalties: Authorities should impose stricter penalties and conduct regular inspections to enforce compliance with crowd safety regulations.