india-s-mob-problem-tragedies-waiting-to-happen

India has a mob problem. Be it religious gatherings, political rallies or social celebrations, overcrowding is so commonplace in the world’s most populous nation that one might be tempted to think only a miracle can save them from a potential tragedy.

 

However, every stampede that occurs in any part of the country is a stark reminder that it is not miracles but proper planning and crowd management protocols that will save us.

 

The shocking death of over 40 people in a recent stampede at a political rally of actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay in Tamil Nadu’s Karur highlights the flaws in India’s crowd management strategies. The Karur tragedy could have been avoided with better planning, sufficient security, and better coordination between the organisers and the local administration.

 

Guidelines go for a toss

 

This was not the first time that such a tragedy struck a public gathering. Unfortunately, the authorities have not learned lessons from earlier mishaps.

 

More than a decade ago, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) released a guide on managing crowds at big events and mass gathering venues. The document emphasised capacity planning, crowd control, risk assessment, and real-time surveillance to prevent any mishaps. However, the guidelines are observed more in breach than in practice. Inadequate infrastructure, disregard for scientific protocols, absence of accountability and a reactive approach to disasters continue to be the significant obstacles.

 

Experts have suggested a multi-pronged strategy to prevent stampedes. It includes stricter protocol enforcement, better urban planning, strategic use of technology like drones and artificial intelligence tools for real-time monitoring, enhanced training for authorities, and public awareness campaigns to foster composure during emergencies.

 

The NDMA stated that man-made tragedies such as stampedes could be prevented through “proactive planning and flawless execution by dedicated groups with well-trained personnel.” However, these measures were conspicuously absent at all major stampede tragedies that struck India in recent times, be it during the Kumbh Mela, the gathering at Hathras or the recent mishap during an event in Bengaluru to celebrate the IPL victory of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team.

 

Also read: 40 dead in stampede at TVK chief Vijay’s rally; hundreds injured

 

A 2013 study published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction (IJDRR) found that 79 per cent of stampedes in India occur at religious gatherings and pilgrimages. Many gathering spots lack basic safety features such as clear exit strategies, sufficient protocols, monitoring systems, and trained personnel.

 

While NDMA guidelines provide a robust framework, implementation at the state and district levels remains inconsistent due to lack of awareness and enforcement. Many organisers do not follow capacity planning norms.

 

Gaping holes

 

For instance, the 2013 Ratangarh temple stampede in Madhya Pradesh, which killed over 115 people, occurred due to the collapse of a bridge railing, despite prior warnings of overcrowding.

 

While NDMA recommended real-time monitoring, many events lack adequate CCTV cameras for live surveillance, crowd density sensors, and AI-based monitoring to detect surges in real time and take immediate action. Similarly, the 2022 Mata Vaishno Devi shrine stampede, which resulted in 12 deaths, was attributed to a sudden rush of devotees and the absence of real-time monitoring systems.

 

Many venues lack wide exits, clear evacuation routes, and emergency response areas, violating structural safety guidelines for mass gatherings. Poor signage and lighting further complicate evacuation. The 2005 Mandhradevi temple stampede in Maharashtra, which killed 300 people, was worsened by a narrow stairway and blocked exit routes, leaving devotees trapped.

 

The NDMA’s guidelines emphasise inter-agency coordination by involving state governments, local authorities, police, and event organisers in disaster preparedness and response planning.

 

While planned events can follow NDMA’s crowd control protocols, spontaneous mass gatherings such as religious events or railway station rushes often lead to unmanaged crowd surges.

 

For instance, the 2025 New Delhi railway station stampede during the Maha Kumbh rush occurred due to an unexpected surge of passengers without proper pre-emptive crowd control.

 

A tragedy waiting to happen

 

The recent Karur tragedy serves as a classic example of how these guidelines are routinely overlooked. The organisers had announced that Vijay would address the rally, organised as part of the state-wide tour, at 12 noon. The crowd began to assemble from 9 am, but he did not arrive until late in the evening. By then, the crowd had surged to an unmanageable proportion. The trouble began when people jostled and pushed to have a glimpse of the popular star, leading to the stampede. The dead included 16 women and six children.

 

Though the police permission was for only about 10,000 people, tens of thousands filled the ground, and the number exceeded 30,000 when the tragedy struck. Apart from exposing glaring gaps in the crowd management strategies, such tragedies also raise questions over the accountability of the organisers in ensuring public safety.

 

On their part, political parties and organisations must prioritise the safety of attendees when planning such events, ensuring adequate medical emergency services, police arrangements, clear exit routes, and effective crowd control measures.

 

Giving misleading estimates about the size of the congregation is a common tactic to gain administrative approval. Sometimes, bribes are offered to secure permissions. Authorities should exercise proper diligence and conduct spot inspections before approving. Exemplary action must be taken against those whose negligence endangers lives.

 

Sense of déjà vu

 

Time and again, India’s administrators have failed to learn from past tragedies — from religious stampedes to election rallies. A familiar pattern has emerged now: a tragic incident followed by a magisterial inquiry, ex gratia announcements, a political blame game, and then silence until the next tragedy unfolds.

 

The problem is that crowd management is rarely a top priority for governments, and crisis management begins only after the crowd becomes a headline. The response is mostly reactive, not proactive.

 

During this year so far, over 80 people have lost their lives in stampedes at public events, temples, railway stations, and at the Maha Kumbh, among others.

 

In June this year, at least 11 people died in a stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during the celebration of the RCB team’s maiden IPL win in 18 years. At least 18 people, most of them Maha Kumbh pilgrims, were killed and more than a dozen were injured in a stampede that broke out at the New Delhi Railway Station in February this year. In a pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh on Mauni Amavasya in January, over 30 people lost their lives. At least six devotees died, and dozens were injured in a stampede at Tirumala temple in January.