Crowd Management in India: A Systemic Failure of Proactive Governance
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Disaster Management (Man-made disasters - stampedes/crowd disasters); Indian Polity and Governance (Role of Police, Key Institutions - National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D)).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (Governance): Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability.
General Studies Paper 3 (Disaster Management & Security): Disaster and disaster management (crowd management is a specific and important topic); Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
General Studies Paper 4 (Ethics): Ethical responsibility of political leaders and public administrators in ensuring the safety of citizens.
Key Highlights from the News
The stampede at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, which killed 41 people, once again brings to light the serious failures in crowd management in India.
Although national agencies like NDMA, BPR&D have clear guidelines, most of them are advisory, not statutory, and are not legally binding.
Many states adopt a reactive approach, only preparing to legislate or issue guidelines on this issue after a disaster has occurred. This indicates a lack of a proactive approach.
Things to consider in Scientific crowd control:
Monitor crowd density (more than 5 people per square meter is dangerous).
Avoid diverting people into narrow passages and obstacles.
Ensure clear entry and exit routes.
The main cause of death in stampedes is not being trampled, but rather suffocation due to severe pressure on the chest (compressive asphyxia).
To avoid such disasters, strong laws ensuring the accountability of organizers and impartial and strict intervention by the police are essential.
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