When will a policy be made to stop stampede in the country?
By Prabha, June 7,2025
11 deaths in IPL celebrations in Bengaluru, 30 in Kumbh and 121 in Hathras highlight India’s crowd management failures. Shouldn’t there be a national policy on this? How long will the government hide its face in the sand?
Gate of Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Photo of June 4.
The stampede at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives. The incident has once again highlighted the serious problem of crowd management at large events in India. It comes after the horrific stampede at the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh Mela on January 29, 2025, in which at least 30 people died (official figure), and the Hathras tragedy in July 2024, in which 121 people lost their lives. These incidents reflect a clear failure to learn lessons from past tragedies. When will a national policy be formulated on this or will it be just a talk after the next incident?
The Bengaluru stampede, which former Uttar Pradesh DGP Vikram Singh described as the result of “criminal negligence”, occurred when around 2 to 3 lakh people gathered at a place that had a capacity of only 35,000. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah disclaimed responsibility for the incident, clarifying that the event was organised by the cricket association and not the state government, although police assistance was provided. He mentioned that a crowd of over 1 lakh had gathered at the Vidhana Soudha without any incident, but the swell in the stadium
was “totally unexpected.After the stampede in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh, dead bodies and belongings of devotees were found scattered here and there. File photo
The Maha Kumbh Mela stampede, one of the deadliest incidents in recent years, occurred during the sacred Mauni Amavasya ritual when lakhs of people thronged the Sangam ghats for a holy dip. At least 30 people were crushed and over 60 injured as barriers collapsed under the pressure of the crowd. The death toll in Prayagraj, however, is higher. People are still missing. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused the Uttar Pradesh government of prioritising VIP movement and ignoring public safety, exposing systemic mismanagement.
Similarly, the stampede during Bhole Baba’s religious ‘satsang’ in Hathras in 2024 was attended by over 2.5 lakh people, far more than the permitted limit of 80,000, resulting in the death of 121 people, mostly women and children. The investigation revealed inadequate crowd control and attempts by the organisers to destroy evidence, indicating a pattern of negligence. Now this matter has been completely suppressed. No action was taken against the person who caused the stampede due to Bhole Baba. The government seemed to be standing with him. UP CM Yogi Adityanath suspected a conspiracy in this. An investigation was ordered. But that conspiracy has not been revealed till date.
People crying in the government hospital of Hathras. File photo
The country has a tragic history of stampedes. From the 1954 Kumbh Mela disaster, which claimed over 800 lives, to the 2013 Prayagraj railway station stampede that killed 42, religious and public gatherings have repeatedly turned deadly due to poor planning, inadequate infrastructure, and laxity of safety protocols. Other notable incidents include the 2005 Mandhardevi temple stampede (over 265 deaths), the 2008 Chamundagar temple tragedy (250 deaths), and the 2008 Naina Devi temple stampede (145 deaths). These incidents, often triggered by rumours, structural failures, or sudden crowd swells, have been particularly disastrous.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had issued guidelines for preparation of a ‘crowd management plan’ in 2014, but its implementation has been inconsistent. The framework recommends measures such as pre-registered passes, timed entry, and capacity assessment. But state governments and local authorities have largely failed to adopt these guidelines. Experts say that there is no policy for crowded places in India. There are no conditions. The rules and regulations that are there are outdated.
Crowd view at New Delhi Railway Station
Following the horrific stampede at New Delhi railway station in February 2025, which killed 18 people, a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court, seeking an expert committee to develop comprehensive crowd management guidelines. The petition emphasised the need for wider corridors, wider footbridges and better accessibility at transport hubs and event venues. However, such improvements are yet to be made.
The repeated tragedies have eroded public confidence in event organisers and authorities. According to a Forum IAS analysis, 79% of stampedes in India from 1954 to 2012 occurred at religious gatherings, often affecting marginalised communities, leading to economic hardship and loss of social capital. The Supreme Court emphasised the need for legislation addressing state accountability in such disasters in the Uphaar Cinema tragedy case, yet no comprehensive legislation exists.
These measures are urgently needed
Law and enforcement: A national law to enforce crowd management protocols and hold organisers accountable.
Technology integration: Use of CCTV, drones and AI-based crowd monitoring to detect and manage crowds in real-time.
Capacity planning: Mandatory assessment of venue capacity and restrictions on the number of attendees.
Professional training: Special training for security personnel and event staff to handle large crowds sensitively.
Public awareness: Campaigns to educate attendees about safety protocols and orderly behaviour.
People’s reaction to the stampede on social media is not stopping. People are attributing stampedes in India to systemic issues like inadequate infrastructure and poor planning. Political leaders including Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai are calling the Bengaluru incident the responsibility of the state. But the organisers of the event are being protected from accountability.
People in the country are upset about the Bengaluru stampede. Some deaths in the stampede in Prayagraj and Hathras were not even recognised. The families of those lost are still waiting for them. The question remains: how many more tragedies will be needed to implement lasting change? Such tragedies cannot be prevented by just throwing around empty promise
