Why in news?
Recently, a tragic crowd crush at a political rally by actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder Vijay in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district claimed 41 lives.
Following the incident, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced the formation of a one-member commission led by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan to investigate the causes of the disaster.
The Chief Minister also stated that new regulations for managing public gatherings would be framed after the commission submits its report.
What’s in Today’s Article?
- India’s Evolving Framework for Crowd Management
- State-Level Measures for Crowd Management in India
- Scientific Approach to Crowd Control
India’s Evolving Framework for Crowd Management
- India has strengthened its crowd management mechanisms through updated national guidelines and institutional training.
- In June 2025, the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) issued Comprehensive Guidelines on Crowd Control and Mass Gathering Management, focusing on scientific and preventive strategies for police and law enforcement agencies.
- Similarly, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) continues to implement its 2020 framework, which recommends advance risk assessment, detailed site layouts, pre-defined entry and exit routes, real-time monitoring, and clear communication systems.
- The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) has also introduced specialised training modules on managing large gatherings as part of its capacity-building initiatives.
- Following the February 2025 crowd crush at a New Delhi railway station, the Indian Railways updated safety manuals at around 60 major stations, adding provisions such as holding areas, dispersal zones, and crowd monitoring systems.
- However, these measures remain largely advisory rather than legally binding, leaving implementation inconsistent across states and agencies.
State-Level Measures for Crowd Management in India
- Several States have begun enacting specific laws to manage large gatherings following recent crowd disasters.
- After the June 2025 stampede at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Karnataka government introduced the Crowd Control (Managing Crowd at Events and Venues of Mass Gathering) Bill, 2025.
- This law covers political, cultural, and religious events, assigning accountability to organisers and empowering district magistrates to cancel or redirect events, regulate loudspeakers, and impose fines or imprisonment for violations.
- Similarly, Uttar Pradesh’s State Disaster Management Authority issued the Guidelines for Managing Crowd at Events of Mass Gathering, 2023, institutionalising measures for religious and cultural congregations.
- Institutional and Training Initiatives
- The Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management has developed training materials offering technical guidance on calculating venue capacity, exit planning, volunteer coordination, and fire and first aid preparedness.
- Following a July 2025 stampede at Haridwar’s Mansa Devi temple, the Uttarakhand government mandated updated safety protocols at major temples and ordered the removal of encroachments near shrines to improve crowd movement and emergency access.
- Event-Specific and Local Protocols
- The Maharashtra government introduced a Bill empowering the Nasik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority to establish temporary townships and bypass certain urban planning norms to accommodate large gatherings.
- In addition, local enforcement agencies have circulated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to improve inter-departmental coordination, medical preparedness, and fire safety.
- For instance, after the Bengaluru incident, Karnataka Police issued a detailed SOP for managing crowds at public events.
- Administrative Measures and Challenges
- Across various districts, police authorities have directed organisers of major religious and political events to submit crowd management plans, limit attendance, set up barricades, deploy medical teams, and divert traffic.
- However, most of these directions remain administrative orders rather than statutory mandates, often issued reactively after specific tragedies — such as the Haridwar, Karur, Bengaluru, and Prayagraj incidents.
- The absence of uniform legal backing continues to hinder consistent enforcement of crowd safety protocols across States.
Scientific Approach to Crowd Control
- Scientific crowd control focuses on regulating crowd density and movement patterns to prevent crushes and stampedes.
- Studies show that danger increases sharply when density exceeds five persons per square metre.
- To prevent this, organisers should avoid bottlenecks, slopes, and counter-flows, which create pressure buildups and destabilise movement.
- The use of drones and ground-linked computer systems for real-time density monitoring is considered a best practice — and failing to deploy such technologies is seen as a major safety gap.
- Safety Practices for Individuals
- In dense or moving crowds, individuals should move diagonally toward less crowded edges instead of pushing against the flow.
- Since most deaths result from compressive asphyxia rather than trampling, people are advised to keep forearms across the chest to protect breathing space and maintain balance with staggered footing.
- If knocked down, rolling to the side, shielding the head and neck, and standing up quickly can help avoid further injury.
- People should also stay away from rigid barriers like fences and walls where pressure can build dangerously, and avoid stopping to retrieve dropped items or take videos, as even short pauses can trigger turbulence in the crowd.
- Organisational Best Practices
- Event organisers should ensure continuous monitoring by trained crowd managers, establish one-way movement routes, provide multiple exits, and display clear signage for crowd direction.
- Public address systems must be used to relay safety instructions, and on-site medical facilities should be available for quick response to emergencies.
- Together, these measures form the scientific foundation of effective and safe crowd management at mass gatherings.
