When massive crowds turn deadly, it's not just bad luck-it's a failure of planning, policing, and personal responsibility
A large number of people in an enclosed space is not unlike a tinderbox: all that is needed is a small spark.
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This year has been particularly bad for crowd management in India. At least four major incidents have been widely reported: the Kumbh Mela (January 29), New Delhi Railway Station (February 15), the Lairai Jatra festival in Shirgaon, Goa (May 3), and the most recent Royal Challenger Bangalore’s (RCB) victory celebration in Bengaluru (June 4), in which people have died due to overcrowding.
Given our large population, large crowds are common in India, especially at religious events. For example, on festivals, thousands of people routinely gather in temples. Yet, stampedes rarely occur. Usually, it is due to good luck, and sometimes, it is due to good planning. A large number of people in an enclosed space is not unlike a tinderbox: all that is needed is a small spark. Good luck arises when there is no spark, which keeps the crowd calm.
The spark almost always arises when some people get impatient or panic, usually because they do not progress towards their goal, such as a darshan or a dip during an auspicious period. Some of them push their way around, resulting in a stampede. Panic or impatience was a key factor in all four incidents cited above. For example, there were rumours at the New Delhi Railway Station that a train’s platform had changed, and some people panicked that they would miss their train. Then, they tried to push through a crowded footbridge, resulting in a stampede.
Some people will get impatient and try to push their way around if their goal is not met, which is a crucial aspect of crowd psychology and an essential component of any crowd management plan. For example, whenever crowds swelled at the Sangam Ghat during the recently concluded Kumbh Mela, the routes to the ghat were elongated by erecting barriers. This made sure that crowds kept moving, which kept them calm. At the same time, it gave police extra time to evacuate ghats for the incoming crowd.
Another key aspect of crowd management is not to let large crowds gather in any enclosed space in the first place. If large crowds must be entertained, for example, at railway stations during festivals, then the solution is to create holding areas where people wait till their turn comes. Even in holding areas, an understanding of crowd psychology is critical. They must get accurate information about the train schedule if it is a railway station. Plus, people must move.
[This article has been published with permission from IIM Bangalore. www.iimb.ac.in Views expressed are personal.]