According to the NCRB’s report titled ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India’, between 2001 and 2022, a total of 3,074 lives have been lost due to stampedes in India. Of these, 2,169 (70%) were men and 900 (30%) were women. Four states of Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu account for half of the total deaths since 2001.
On 02 July 2024, a tragedy occurred during a religious gathering in the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh for Bhole Baba. A Stampede killed at least 121 people, mostly women, during a ‘Satsang’ led by self-styled godman Suraj Pal, also known as ‘Bhole Baba’, in Fulari village, Uttar Pradesh. Following this tragic event, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) conducted an inquiry and based on its report, the government suspended six officials for their negligence in ensuring the safety of the event.
This incident has spotlighted the vulnerability of crowd management in India and highlighted the hazards associated with mass gatherings within the disaster management framework. In this story, we will delve into the statistics of stampedes in India.
What are stampedes?
Mass gatherings, from vibrant festivals to spirited sports events, have a magnetic pull, drawing crowds in numbers that transform spaces into seas of humanity. The World Health Organization defines mass gatherings as assemblies of more than a specific number of people at a designated location for a particular purpose over a set period. Mass Gatherings could be of two types- Spontaneous and Planned. Spontaneous Mass Gatherings, by their nature, are more difficult to manage when compared to the other.
But within the definition of Mass Gatherings lies a spectrum of potential disasters, each with unique causes and outcomes. From external hazards like fires or terrorist attacks to internal dynamics such as poor crowd management and miscalculations, the triggers of a stampede are varied. The true peril of a stampede lies in the imperceptible transition from a joyful, united crowd to a frantic, life-threatening rush. Stampedes continue to garner attention because, despite their frequency, they remain stubbornly unpredictable.
Where do stampedes usually occur?
Recent crowd disasters highlight the urgent need to understand these potentially deadly incidents. Large religious gatherings are particularly prone to stampedes in the developing world. A 2013 study from India revealed that 79% of stampedes in the country occur at religious events, compared to political or entertainment-related gatherings. Sociologists explain that gurus often hold a significant appeal due to their belief in their healing powers, especially among the poor, sick, and underprivileged.
Factors such as unemployment, deprivation, discrimination, ignorance, and illiteracy contribute to this phenomenon. People see hope in godmen, believing that a miracle might change their lives. In times of economic and social insecurity, individuals seek connections that help them feel less isolated. This sense of belonging and hope drives people to believe in and attend these large religious events.
Almost 4000 cases of stampedes registered since 1996
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, is responsible for documenting crimes and unnatural deaths nationwide. Since 1996, the NCRB has been collecting data on stampede incidents across India. The all-India data on stampede incidents from 1996 to 2022 indicate a total of approximately 3,935 such cases. The year 2022 marked the second-lowest number of stampede cases recorded, with 6 incidents, while 2018 had the lowest with 5 cases. In contrast, 2009 witnessed the highest number of stampede cases since 1996, with 1,532 incidents reported.
Over 3,000 Lives Lost in Two Decades to Stampedes
The exact causes of stampedes can stem from a variety of factors, ranging from external triggers to internal crowd dynamics. Due to the complex nature of stampedes, understanding why and how they occur is challenging. However, implementing certain measures can help minimize the risks associated with mass gatherings and potentially reduce fatalities.
According to the NCRB’s report titled ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India,’ the number of deaths caused by stampedes spanning from 2001 to 2022 reveals that a total of 3,074 lives have been lost due to stampedes in India. Of these, 2,169 (70%) were men and 900 (30%) were women.
Four states account for half of stampede deaths in last two decades
Examining the regional distribution of fatalities due to stampedes, four states—Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu—account for half of the total deaths since 2001. Jharkhand leads with 454 deaths, followed by Maharashtra with 393, Andhra Pradesh with 391, and Tamil Nadu with 266. Interestingly, despite hosting the largest tribal festival in India, the biennial Sammakka Saralamma Jathara, which attracts around 10 million people, Telangana has not recorded a single fatality due to stampedes since its inception in 2014 as per the NCRB’s data.
Need for an Integrated approach towards crowd management systems
Across the country, countless events draw crowds of all sizes to various venues. The level of preparedness to handle emergencies at these events varies significantly. Poor planning can elevate risks due to inadequate crowd management or insufficient services. Emergencies and disasters linked to mass gatherings are a global issue.
Planning for mass gatherings is largely driven by the type of event and the associated risk assessment. There are numerous potential risks—both big and small, foreseeable and unforeseeable—that can arise immediately before, during, or after an event. Addressing all these risks is challenging, especially given the limited resources available, such as trained personnel, equipment, supplies, services, and funding. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and prioritize the greatest risks to ensure the safety of large crowds.
A mere glance at the crowd disasters shows that most of them are man-made. The majority of them could have been prevented with proactive and holistic planning. The National Disaster Management Authority’s “National Guide on Crowd Management”, released in 2014, serves as a basic guide to formulate, implement and manage crowd management systems in mass gatherings.
Featured Image: Stampedes in India
