Why stampedes happen, Pg23.

Key Highlights:

• A stampede occurred at a rally by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and actor Vijay in Karur, resulting in multiple fatalities.
• Overcrowding, a specific trigger (people falling off a tree), and delays in rescue efforts contributed to the Karur stampede.
• NCRB data indicates that over 3,074 lives have been lost in stampedes in India between 2000 and 2022.
• In June, an IPL victory celebration in Bengaluru led to a stampede, and in May, a religious yatra in Goa also experienced a deadly crush.

Detailed Insights:

• Political rallies in South India, often featuring film actors, are prone to overcrowding, making crowd control difficult for authorities.
• Inadequate planning and delays at events are major contributing factors to deadly stampedes, as seen in the Karur incident.
• Stampedes in India commonly occur at places of worship, sporting events, railway stations, and large gatherings like the Maha Kumbh.
• A tightly packed gathering combined with underestimated crowd sizes and inadequate preparedness can lead to localized crushes and stampedes.
• Compressive asphyxia, caused by pressure on the rib cage in a crush, is a significant cause of death in stampedes, often preceding trampling.
• Cultural factors, such as a general disregard for rules and regulations and a more negotiable sense of personal space, exacerbate the risk in India.
• Research suggests that individuals in crowds rely on non-verbal cues, and emotions change based on the situation and behavior of others.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Stampede: A sudden, chaotic surge of a crowd, often resulting in injuries and fatalities due to trampling or crushing.
• Compressive Asphyxia: Suffocation caused by external pressure on the chest, restricting breathing.
• Crowd Dynamics: The study of how crowds behave, move, and interact, including factors influencing their behavior and safety.