Model Answer

Stampedes are crowd disasters caused by excessive crowd pressure and uncontrolled movement. The October 2026 Kolkata Durga Puja tragedy, which claimed 19 lives, highlights persistent gaps in crowd management.

Major Causes of Stampedes

1. Overcrowding exceeds venue capacity, creating dangerous crowd pressure. e.g: Prayagraj Maha Kumbh stampede (2025).
2. Infrastructure bottlenecks restrict movement through narrow entrances and exits. e.g: New Delhi Railway Station stampede (2025).
3. Sudden crowd surges occur due to panic, rumours or weather. e.g: Kolkata Durga Puja stampede (2026), triggered amid heavy rainfall.
4. Poor event planning results in inadequate crowd estimation and access control. e.g: Bengaluru RCB victory celebrations (2025).
5. Weak coordination delays crowd regulation and emergency response.

Measures to Prevent Stampedes

1. Capacity regulation through advance registration and controlled entry.
2. Scientific crowd monitoring using CCTV, artificial intelligence and density alerts.
3. Safe infrastructure with separate entry-exit routes and emergency corridors.
4. Emergency preparedness through mock drills, medical teams and trained volunteers.
5. Institutional accountability through NDMA guidelines, safety audits and clear responsibilities.

Preventing stampedes requires shifting from reactive crowd control to proactive, technology-enabled disaster risk management.