RCB's IPL victory parade in Bengaluru resulted in a stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium highlighting serious issues with crowd control

What exactly is a Stampede?

A stampede is an abrupt, chaotic surge of a crowd, often triggered by fear, panic, or exhilaration in a crowded or uncontrolled area. It may lead to serious injuries or death from crushing, suffocation, or trampling.

Reasons for Stampede in India:

Overcrowding: Events frequently draw significantly more attendees than the venue can hold, exceeding safe capacity limits.

Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium witnessed 3 lakh attendees at a site designed for 35,000.

Inadequate Planning & Regulation: Insufficient risk evaluation, tardy police arrival, and absence of crowd management plans exacerbate disorder.

The Bengaluru incident experienced a delayed arrival of police personnel despite the anticipated large crowd.

Communication Breakdowns: Fear caused by hearsay, vague statements, or misunderstandings frequently leads to crowd rushes.

The stampede at Allahabad Railway Station was triggered by a sudden platform change.

Infrastructure Constraints: Tight entrances, obstructed exits, inadequate signage, and barriers generate bottlenecks during peak times.

The stampede at Elphinstone FOB intensified because of water accumulation and restricted room for movement.

NDMA Directives for Managing Crowds and Stampedes:

Pre-Event Preparation: Organizers need to evaluate venue capacity, design movement pathways, and create emergency response plans.

Access Management: Implementation of barriers, ticketing systems, and security screenings guarantees controlled entry and departure.

Skilled Staff: Utilize trained marshals, law enforcement, and volunteers to direct crowds and manage emergencies at the location.

Communication Approach: Implement multilingual signs, public announcement systems, and immediate alerts to avoid misunderstandings.

Crisis Readiness: Establish first-aid stations, position ambulances nearby, and practice SOPs with teams for quick reaction.

Instant Monitoring: Utilize CCTV, drones, and thermal sensors to observe crowd density and identify hotspots promptly.

Measures to Avert Future Stampedes:

Intelligent Crowd Observation: Utilize AI-driven monitoring, drones, and thermal imaging to identify hazardous crowd behaviors.

Measures to Alleviate Crowd Congestion: Utilize satellite displays, impose digital ticket restrictions, and manage entry to avert overcrowding.

Rigorous Implementation of Capacity Regulations: Legal limits on attendee numbers must be upheld, with penalties for breaches by event coordinators.

Mock Drills and Training: Regular simulation exercises for law enforcement and volunteers guarantee efficient evacuation preparedness.

Public Education: Initiatives via social and local media must educate individuals on safe conduct in gatherings.

Conclusion:

The Bengaluru stampede serves as a harsh reminder that festivities lacking safety can result in disaster. India must transition from responding to disasters to proactively managing crowds. Only at that point can large events be enjoyable and safe.