Another stampede

The cruel irony is not lost on anyone. Even as a special crowd management plan is being implemented for the safety of Maha Kumbh pilgrims following the Sangam stampede that claimed 30 lives on January 29, tragedy struck devotees hundreds of kilometres away at New Delhi railway station, where they had gathered in large numbers to board trains to Prayagraj. At least 18 people were killed in a stampede on Saturday night. A senior railway officer’s claim that the incident occurred after some passengers slipped and fell on others while coming down a foot overbridge tells only half the story. The possible causes being cited are: Delays in train departures; a surge in ticket sale; wrong (or last-minute) announcement about change of platforms. The railway authorities should have anticipated the huge rush, considering that the mega festival is going to conclude in about 10 days’ time. There was absolutely no margin for error.

Overcrowding is par for the course in the world’s most populous country. However, crowd management is rarely a top priority for the Central and state governments as well as the district administration. The response is mostly reactive, not proactive. Stampedes can be averted or minimised if the basics are followed religiously. Adequate deployment of security personnel to regulate crowd movement and meticulous planning of the arrangements are prerequisites for ensuring that nothing untoward happens during events with mass participation. But who cares? A ‘chalta hai’ attitude is widely prevalent, marked by a lack of accountability and a brazen disregard for the value of human life.

It was in 2014 that the National Disaster Management Authority came out with a guide on crowd management for state governments, local authorities, administrators and organisers. It laid stress on ‘professionalisation’ of the entire process with an integrated and structured approach. Sadly, the likelihood of a stampede will remain high unless this important document is taken seriously by all stakeholders.