Stampedes in India: Lessons in Scientific Crowd Control

Recently, a political rally by actor Vijay, founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Karur district, Tamil Nadu, ended in a fatal crowd crush, resulting in the death of 41 people.
This incident has reignited concerns over India’s preparedness for managing mass gatherings during religious, political, cultural, and sporting events.
India has witnessed recurrent stampedes in 2025 alone, highlighting systemic gaps in crowd management and public safety.

M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru (June 4, 2025): 11 fans killed during IPL victory celebrations.
Puri Gundicha Temple, Odisha (June 29, 2025): 3 killed during Rath Yatra festival.
Shree Lairai Devi Temple, Goa (May 3, 2025): 7 deaths during Lairai Jatra festival on a slope.
New Delhi Railway Station (February 15, 2025): 18 killed and more than a dozen injured due to overcrowding.
Prayag Maha Kumbh Mela, Uttar Pradesh (January 29, 2025): At least 30 deaths during a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya.
Lord Venkateswara Swamy Temple, Andhra Pradesh (January 8, 2025): 6 devotees killed while jostling for free tickets.

BPR&D Guidelines (June 2025):
- Issued by Bureau of Police Research and Development.
- Emphasises scientific crowd management, risk assessment, and coordination for law enforcement.
NDMA Recommendations (2020 onwards):
- Guides on managing crowds at mass gatherings.
- Includes site layout planning, ingress and egress routes, real-time monitoring, and communication protocols.
NIDM Training Modules:
- Capacity-building programmes to train officials on handling large congregations safely.
Indian Railways Manual (2025):
- Updated for 60 high-footfall stations.
- Introduced holding areas, dispersal zones, and crowd monitoring mechanisms.

Note: Most measures are advisory and not legally enforceable.

Karnataka (2025):
- Crowd Control Bill covers political rallies, cultural programmes, and other events.
- Assigns responsibility to organisers and empowers district magistrates to cancel events, regulate loudspeakers, and impose fines or imprisonment.
Uttar Pradesh (2023):
- State Disaster Management Authority guidelines formalise measures for religious and cultural events.
Gujarat:
- Training manuals by Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management include site capacity planning, exits, volunteer training, first aid, and fire safety.
Uttarakhand:
- Directed safety arrangements at major temples and removal of encroachments around shrines.
Maharashtra (2025):
- Bill empowers Nasik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority to authorise temporary facilities and bypass certain urban planning norms.
Local Enforcement Agencies:
- Circulated SOPs for crowd control, coordination between departments, medical preparedness, and fire safety protocols.
- Directed organisers to prepare crowd management plans, limit crowd size, deploy medical teams, set up barricades, and divert routes.
- These remain administrative orders without legal backing.

Controlling Crowd Density:
- Risk increases sharply at 5 persons per sq. m.
Use of Technology:
- Drones and real-time cameras help monitor crowd density continuously.
Avoiding Hazardous Areas:
- Crowds should not be channelled into bottlenecks, slopes, or counter-flows.
Managing Movement:
- Individuals advised to move diagonally, towards less dense edges, avoiding resistance to the flow.
Compressive Asphyxia:
- Main cause of fatalities rather than trampling.
- Occurs when external pressure on chest or abdomen prevents lung expansion, causing oxygen deprivation.
- Survival strategies: forearms across chest, staggered footing, roll sideways if knocked down, protect head and neck, and rise quickly.
Avoiding Rigid Barriers:
- Walls, fences, and stages can dangerously increase pressure.
Best Practices for Organisers:
- Real-time monitoring by trained managers.
- One-way traffic routing and multiple exits.
- Clear signage and public announcements.
- On-site medical teams and first aid facilities.

Stampedes in India are not isolated incidents but a reflection of systemic gaps in crowd management.
While national and state guidelines exist, enforceable legal frameworks are largely absent.
The way forward includes:
- Adoption of scientific crowd management methods.
- Legal accountability for organisers.
- Empowering local authorities with statutory backing.
- Use of technology such as drones, AI-based monitoring, and real-time data systems.
Implementing these measures effectively can prevent tragedies like the Karur rally and ensure public safety during mass gatherings.