Context

• The recent disaster at the Maha Kumbh in India, which claimed 30 lives, is another reminder of the dangers posed by high-density crowds.
• Despite scientific research offering clear solutions, local governments and event organisers often fail to take the necessary precautions.
• Therefore, it is important to explore the causes of crowd crushes, examines their global impact, stricter regulations and better crowd management strategies to prevent future tragedies.

The Science Behind Crowd Crushes and Similar Past Incidents

• The Science Behind Crowd Crushes
  • Crowd crushes occur when too many people are compressed into a confined space, increasing the density beyond safe limits.
  • Research shows that injuries begin occurring at a density of five people per square meter, while a density of seven people per square meter or more can lead to severe injuries or fatalities.
  • This is because, at such high densities, individuals lose the ability to control their movements, and breathing itself can become difficult.
  • The recent Maha Kumbh disaster is a textbook example of how crowd density can spiral out of control.
  • Reports suggest that a large crowd formed behind a barrier, leading to intense pressure on those at the front.
  • When movement is restricted, even minor disturbances, such as pushing or sudden shifts in direction, can trigger a deadly crush.
• Similar Incidents
  • Similar incidents have occurred worldwide, including the 2021 Astroworld concert in Houston, the 2022 Itaewon Halloween tragedy in South Korea, the 2023 Yemen charity distribution stampede, and the 2024 religious festival disaster in Nigeria.
  • These examples highlight the widespread nature of the problem and emphasize the need for proactive crowd management strategies.

Misconceptions Surrounding Crowd Crush Incidents and Economic Incentives Behind the Inaction

• The Myth of Crowd Behaviour as the Cause
  • Historically, people have believed that crowd crushes are caused by panic, with individuals recklessly pushing and trampling others in an attempt to escape.
  • However, scientific studies on crowd dynamics have consistently debunked this notion.
  • In reality, crowd crushes occur due to extreme density, not panic or aggression.
  • When too many people are forced into a small space, physical movement becomes restricted, and individuals lose their ability to control their own actions.
  • At this point, even minor pressure from behind—whether intentional or not—can cause people at the front to be squeezed against barriers, walls, or other individuals, leading to asphyxiation and fatal injuries.
  • Furthermore, once a crowd reaches a critical density, people inside the mass are unable to see or understand what is happening around them.
  • Even if they sense danger, they may have no way to escape or influence the movement of the crowd.
  • This is why crowd crushes often occur even in calm settings, such as religious pilgrimages, where there is no aggressive or reckless behaviour.
• The Economic Incentives Behind Inaction
  • Despite the clear benefits of proper crowd management, many event organisers fail to implement these strategies.
  • A major reason for this is financial incentive.
  • Large-scale events, whether concerts, religious gatherings, or sports matches, generate significant revenue through ticket sales, concessions, and merchandise.
  • Organisers often have a vested interest in packing as many people as possible into a venue to maximize profits.
  • Implementing safety measures, such as limiting attendance, expanding venue space, or hiring trained crowd managers, is often seen as an unnecessary expense.
  • Governments also share some of the blame. In many countries, there are no strict regulations requiring event organisers to follow best practices for crowd safety.
  • As a result, safety measures are often left to the discretion of private promoters, who may prioritise cost-cutting over public safety.
  • Without legal mandates and strict enforcement, profit-driven decision-making can put thousands of lives at risk.

Key Actions to Prevent Dangerous Crowd Densities

• Venue Design and Capacity Management
  • Ensuring that event spaces are designed to accommodate the expected number of attendees without creating choke points, bottlenecks, or dead ends.
  • Calculating crowd capacity based on scientifically proven density limits is essential.
• Sufficient Entry and Exit Points
  • Having enough well-spaced entry and exit routes prevents dangerous congestion.
  • Restricted or blocked exits have been a major factor in past crowd disasters, trapping people in deadly situations.
• Staggered Arrivals and Departures
  • Large crowds do not necessarily have to move all at once.
  • Organisers can schedule staggered entry and exit times, reducing the likelihood of mass surges at any given moment.
• Real-Time Crowd Monitoring
  • Using surveillance cameras, drones, and other monitoring technologies can help organisers track crowd density and respond to potential dangers before they escalate.
• Crowd Segmentation Strategies
  • Dividing large crowds into smaller, controlled sections can significantly reduce the risk of dangerous surges.
  • New York City’s Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration is a prime example, where barriers segment the crowd into smaller groups, making it easier to manage.

The Way Forward: Shifting Responsibility to Where It Belongs

• Instead of blaming individuals for ‘chaotic behaviour’ in crowd crush incidents, governments and the public must hold event organisers accountable.
• Authorities must enforce strict safety regulations, requiring all large events to implement proven crowd management techniques.
• Penalties for negligence should be severe enough to deter reckless planning, and event permits should be contingent on organizers demonstrating clear safety protocols.

Conclusion

• The loss of life at the Maha Kumbh, like so many other crowds crush incidents, was not an accident but a preventable failure of planning and regulation.
• Scientific research has made it clear how and why these disasters occur, yet event organisers and governments continue to ignore basic safety measures.
• Until authorities take proactive steps to enforce proper crowd management, these tragedies will continue to claim innocent lives.
• Only through strict regulations, better planning, and a commitment to safety, we can prevent future crowd crush disasters.