Culture of risk, Pg 8.

Key Highlights:

• Eight people died at Mansa Devi shrine (Haridwar) and two at Avsaaneshwar temple (Barabanki) due to panic triggered by electrical hazard rumours.
• Sites lacked automatic power cutoffs, public address systems, and effective crowd flow control infrastructure.
• Makeshift wiring, overloaded transformers, and lack of emergency protocols amplified risks.
• Both states have existing guidelines (e.g., NDMA norms, Char Dham manual), but enforcement remains poor.
• Investigations may recommend underground cabling, voltage monitoring, and legally binding safety norms.
• Volunteer-based crowd management, infrequent safety drills, and diversion of infrastructure funds to festivals persist.

Detailed Insights:

• Regulatory Gaps: NDMA event safety guidelines are not legally enforceable, and states implement them selectively.
• Structural Issues: Temples often bypass safety norms due to charitable status; safety certifications are not mandatory for routine darshan.
• Human Factors: Use of untrained volunteers and absence of crowd psychology training exacerbate the problem.
• Infrastructure Flaws: Dual-use stairways, lack of one-way movement systems, and no real-time crowd monitoring contribute to chaos.
• Policy Recommendations:
• Legally bind NDMA norms with penalties for non-compliance.
• Enforce single incident-command structure for large gatherings.
• Deploy AI cameras, overhead LiDAR, and live density monitoring.
• Publish capacity charts, conduct quarterly livestreamed drills, and certify volunteers in crowd control and life-saving skills.

Concepts Involved:

• LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging): Remote sensing method using laser light to measure distances and create 3D models of crowd density.
• AI-based surveillance: Real-time analysis of crowd movement using artificial intelligence for alerting and management.
• Incident Command System (ICS): Standardized emergency response structure coordinating multi-agency efforts.