A deadly stampede at New Delhi’s railway station on Saturday night has highlighted the need for better crowd management for mega-events like the Maha Kumbh. The accident, which claimed at least 18 lives, was sparked by a combination of factors including crowded platforms and inadequate ticket sales.
Indian Railways’ decision to sell more general tickets than the train’s capacity contributed to the chaos, while delays in other trains departing from the same platform may have also played a role. The initial authorities’ reaction to the stampede was criticized for being dismissive and unprepared.
Tragically, this incident comes just weeks after 30 people died during the Mauni Amavasya Shahi Snan event in Prayagraj. These deaths were meant to serve as a warning, but it appears that the authorities are yet to fully address the issue.
With millions of devotees heading to the Maha Kumbh, Uttar Pradesh and other states must install foolproof crowd control plans and remain vigilant to prevent any laxity. Railway stations will naturally act as hubs for this massive influx of pilgrims, making it essential to have tighter arrangements and better prior planning in place.
The two recent stampedes demonstrate that preparation for mega events is severely lacking. Crowd control measures must go beyond deploying police personnel with lathis to involve better organization, coordination, scientific planning, and data-driven decision-making. The human toll of such negligence has been too high, and authorities must prepare more assiduously before the event – including managing the narrative effectively.
Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/editorials/falling-off-the-tracks-again-101739717804191.html