Stampedes

GS 3: Disaster Management 

A stampede is sudden, chaotic crowd movement causing injuries or fatalities, often triggered by panic or overcrowding.

Notable Incidents in India:

• 2008 Naina Devi Temple: Landslide rumors caused 145 deaths.
• 2017 Mumbai Bridge: Overcrowding led to 22 fatalities.
• 2022 Vaishno Devi Shrine: Panic caused 22 deaths.

Major Causes:

1. Structural Failures: Narrow exits, temporary bridges.
2. Crowd Behavior: Panic, rumors, overcrowding.
3. Coordination Gaps: Poor collaboration among agencies.

Impacts of Stampedes

• Trauma and Loss: Survivors often face emotional distress, especially after losing loved ones.
• Economic Hardship: Victims from low-income groups face financial challenges due to funeral and medical expenses.
• Erosion of Trust: Repeated incidents undermine confidence in event organizers and authorities.
• Loss of Social Capital: High fatalities among women and children result in a significant loss of productive human capital.

NDMA Guidelines:

1. Understand venue and visitor patterns.
2. Implement effective crowd regulation and communication.
3. Ensure medical care and train security personnel.

Way Forward

1. Enforce NDMA guidelines.
2. Use technology like drones for monitoring.
3. Increase public awareness of crowd safety.