How stampedes happen, how they can be prevented, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• At least 19 people died and many were injured in a crowd surge at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata on Saturday evening.
• The incident occurred at the Chorbangan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal amidst heavy rain and a large gathering.
• Preliminary reports suggest rain pushed people towards the pandal, and a public-address system announcement added to the commotion, leading to a deadly crush.
• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) 2014 report highlights that most crowd disasters in India occur at religious places.

Crowd Control.jpg

Detailed Insights:

• What is commonly termed a "stampede" is often a crowd crush, where high density prevents individuals from controlling their movement.
• Causes include structural issues like weak barricades, narrow exits, and poor lighting, as well as failures in crowd management.
• NDMA identifies inadequate crowd control, exceeding venue capacity, and insufficient holding areas as key problems.
• High crowd density makes even minor disturbances, like someone falling or sudden rain, lead to disproportionate consequences.
• Compressive asphyxia, where pressure around the chest prevents breathing, is historically the most common cause of death in such disasters.
• Crowd behavior is influenced by others, and poorly worded announcements can cause simultaneous, dangerous movements.
• Inappropriate crowd-control measures, such as police pushing against an incoming stream, can worsen emergencies.
• Past incidents like the 2003 Nashik Kumbh (29 deaths) and 2005 Kalubai Yatra (293 deaths) show multiple weaknesses combining to cause disasters.
• NDMA advocates proactive planning, managing demand and capacity, and regulating entry and movement to prevent such events.
• Strategies include input control (restricting entry), one-way routes, separate entrances/exits, and real-time crowd monitoring.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Crowd Crush: A situation where high human density leads to individuals losing control over their movement, often resulting in injury or death.
• Compressive Asphyxia: A cause of death in crowd disasters where external pressure on the chest prevents breathing.
• Input Control: A crowd management strategy involving restricting or staggering entry to a venue to prevent overcrowding.
• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): The apex body in India responsible for formulating disaster management policies.