The recent stampede at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, brought back painful memories of many such tragedies that have claimed lives and left many struggling with injuries. From the early morning crush of people at the Mahakumbh, to an incident at New Delhi Railway Station, or the overflow of fans in Bengaluru — all show that something is lacking in the crowd control methods adopted by the authorities.
At Karur, the stampede left 41 dead and 89 injured during a political rally by the nascent Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam of film superstar Vijay, aka Thalapathy (Commander). Now, the actor-turned-politician and his supporters may come up with conspiracy theories surrounding the incident. Vijay has demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The Tamil Nadu government has set up a judicial inquiry, and the High Court has directed a probe by a Special Investigation Team. The reports should conclude what went wrong and what resulted in the tragedy. The moot point is: are the authorities learning lessons from such incidents, and do they have standard operating procedures in place to ensure such disasters do not recur?
What is a Stampede?
“A stampede is an act of mass impulse among a crowd of people in which they collectively begin running with no clear direction or purpose. In general, the term human stampede is applied to a sudden rush of a congregated, active, polarised group of people, which is basically heterogeneous and complex, resulting in many injuries and death mainly due to suffocation and trampling.” This definition was provided three years ago in the training module on Management of Crowd at Large Congregations created by the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM).
The module noted that recurring stampedes at places of mass gathering, including religious places, railway stations, and sports/social/political events, are a serious concern. It observed that crowd disasters, in general, are human-induced disasters that can be completely prevented with proactive planning and flawless execution by dedicated groups of well-trained personnel. In 2014, the National Disaster Management Authority came up with a report, Managing Crowd at Events and Venues of Mass Gathering: A Guide for State Governments, Local Authorities, Administrators and Organisers. Several state governments have also formulated guidelines to deal with large gatherings. The problem lies in implementation and the absence of penal provisions when such procedures are either ignored or not followed in spirit.
Political Rallies
With elections taking place every year in one part of the country or another, and the Lok Sabha elections occurring periodically, clearance from authorities for holding large gatherings is mandatory. The police and local administration have a major role in permitting such assemblies based on the party(ies) concerned adhering to agreed parameters. Violations can lead to penal action. However, here lies the nub: political parties in the opposition, especially regional outfits, at times cry foul over the denial or rejection of requests to hold rallies at particular venues.
Yet, political parties cannot avoid responsibility for the smooth conduct of rallies in support of their outfits or leaders. It is imperative for the leadership to ensure an orderly assembly and dispersal of large crowds. As a reporter, this writer had the opportunity of attending many such gatherings, and usually, the local leadership made it a point to urge the assembled crowd to exit without jostling. Parties also deploy workers trained to manage the sudden movement of people and guide their exit in an orderly fashion.
Institutionalised Training
There is a case to be made for the regular training of political party workers in managing large crowds. While many may have acquired the skills through hands-on experience at rallies organised by their respective parties, formal training could be conducted periodically by the NIDM. The presumption here is that police and other civic administrators are also adequately trained.
With elections in Bihar approaching, perhaps the Election Commission could take on the additional task of bringing various political parties together to agree on a standard operating procedure.
Over the years, political rallies involving protected leaders have employed a different set of crowd management protocols that keep the protectees at a safe distance. Now, with improved technology — including drones — administrators and police at public events are adopting new methods to monitor crowd density for more efficient management. Just as political parties came together to agree on a Code of Conduct — which is enforced by the Election Commission of India through its army of observers and trained administrators — the poll body could implement a similar mechanism for crowd management. Bihar could serve as the test bed for its efficacy.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!