Over 120 people have died in the stampede that occurred at a “satsang” in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh; the dead were members of the audience that had assembled to hear a preacher. In addition to being accused of refusing to assist the police with traffic control and hiding evidence after the incident, the FIR claims that the organisers obtained permission for the congregation based on a false promise about the true number of devotees who were expected to attend.
It is regrettable and ironic that crowd control frequently falls short of expectations in a nation where religious sites are frequented by large crowds of people. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) published guidance on crowd control at events and locations of large gatherings ten years ago.
Source: Moneycontrol
The purpose of this statement was to encourage local governments, state governments, and organisers to take an integrated and organised approach to crowd and disaster management. According to the NDMA, “proactive planning and flawless execution by dedicated groups with well-trained personnel” could prevent man-made calamities like stampedes.
All of this, meanwhile, was noticeably absent from the Hathras event.It’s common practice to inflate estimates of the audience or congregation in order to win over the administration. Occasionally, hands are lubricated to complete a task. However, if something goes terribly wrong, the organisers cannot take full responsibility.
Source: Zee News
When giving authorization, the authorities ought to take careful consideration into account; on-site inspections are necessary to verify that sufficient safety measures have been put in place to prepare for the worst-case situation. The best course of action is to hold individuals whose blatant disregard for human life or greed endangers lives accountable.
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