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Economic Times
13-07-2025
- General
- Economic Times
Why are stampedes becoming commonplace in India & how can we prevent them?
Space, the final frontier India is becoming the stampede centre of the world. There are stampedes everywhere - at religious festivals, in sports events, at railway stations, in political rallies, and even in schools. Pundits say stampedes are happening because India's teeming billions are illiterate. They are dead wrong. Inadequate and poor crowd management - not illiteracy, which is declining anyway - leads to stampedes. Humungous crowds that gather to celebrate religious festivals or sports events are a sign of a rising middle class wanting to rejoice in their prosperity. Devotees in highly-religious India aspire to go on pilgrimages. With their rising prosperity, now they have the resources to fulfil their wishes. Expect the crowds to grow, not fall, as illiteracy falls and prosperity rises. A stampede killed 11 in Bengaluru at an IPL celebration in June. At the Puri Rath Yatra, 3 were killed the same month. Yet another 18 were killed at New Delhi Railway Station in February. At least 30 died in the Maha Kumbh mela in a stampede in Prayagraj, and six in a Tirupati stampede in January. Last year, at a religious event in Hathras, UP, 121 people were killed and at least 150 hospitalised in a stampede. The list goes all these cases, the problem was with poor crowd management, or complete lack of it. In most events, crowd density exceeded venue capacity by a wide margin. At the Hathras incident, the crowd was over 3x the permitted number. At the Bengaluru IPL event, the number gathered was 8x the allowed management is difficult. It is going to become even more difficult with urbanisation. The good news is that with improved ability for instant communication, crowd movement can be better planned and managed with real-time data on crowd of Greenwich's Fire Safety Engineering Group (FSEG) has used behavioural experiments and mathematical modelling to understand how crowds move in different scenarios. They find that moving crowds with a density of more than 4 individuals per metre is dangerous. The problem is that individuals in a crowd crush are blind to what's happening around them. They only see the few individuals around them, and have no idea if there are crowding pressures building around with proper monitoring with CCTV, crowd density can be monitored, and volunteers, security personnel, police and other organisers can be informed of crowd mobility and danger zones in real time. In addition, we need entry regulations at religious centres such as Prayagraj, Tirupati, Puri, Varanasi, Badrinath, Dwarka, Rameswaram and Haridwar. Local authorities should follow the example of Venice that charges daily visitors a fee, which varies across seasons. Around religious festivals, the entry fee could be raised to reduce would hesitate to charge devotees. No one wants to be accused for putting a fee for entering the house of god. Yet, funds from registration fee can be allocated to improve infrastructure at religious destinations, which is extremely poor, and devotees would appreciate that. Prior online registration and permission a week in advance of travelling should be made mandatory. This will allow appropriate allocation of resources to manage entry in cities or temple sites is not sufficient to avoid stampedes. Vaishno Devi in Jammu, for instance, has regulated entry for years. Yet, it could not stop a major stampede in 2022 that killed 12 devotees and injured are additional challenges to events organised by godmen and celebrities. Public frenzy - crowds pushing and jolting each other to get a sight - is a sign that the event is a thundering success. Empty chairs and small gatherings are signs of failure. The only way to solve this contradiction - creating frenzy and controlling it - is to make godmen and celebrities accountable if the events they organise fall short of crowd safety. Heavy crowds at events simply mean high demand and limited supply. A simple solution is to increase supply. If more people register for an event than what a venue can take, godmen can offer two or more events, instead of is no single solution. Crowd management techniques at railway stations differ from crowd management techniques in schools or at sports events. Crowd management during morning or evening prayers at large temples like Vaishno Devi or Tirupati differ from crowd management techniques in religious yatras or political rallies. The important point is that we must improve our ability to manage large and rising prosperity will increase crowding. Looking at the crowds that gather at most events and the poor quality of management, it is a wonder we have escaped bigger disasters. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. 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Hans India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Odisha govt run by billionaires, says Rahul
Bhubaneswar: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the BJP government in Odisha of handing over the State's land, water, forests and other resources to a handful of billionaires. Addressing the party's 'Samvidhan Bachao Samavesh' at Baramunda Ground here, Rahul, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, said the current government does not belong to the people, but to industrialists like Adani and a few other billionaires who, he claimed, are now running the State government. Rahul claimed that it was evident Adani is running the BJP government in Odisha citing the instance of when Lord Jagannath's chariot was allegedly stopped during the Puri Rath Yatra for the Adani family. 'Jal, Jangal, Jamin' belong to the tribals and will remain for them, Rahul said, adding that Odisha's BJP government has "not implemented" the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996.
United News of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Rahul slams Odisha BJP govt for 'handing over state resources to billionaires'
Bhubaneswar, July 11 (UNI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today launched a scathing attack on the BJP government in Odisha, accusing it of handing over the state's land, water, forests, and other resources to a handful of billionaires, including Adani and Ambani. Addressing a 'Sambidhan Bachao' rally at the Baramunda Ground here, Gandhi alleged that the current government does not belong to the people, but to industrialists like Adani and a few other billionaires who, he claimed, are now running the state government. 'This government has handed over land, mines, forests, and water to just four or five big industrial houses,' he said. He also blamed both the present BJP government and the previous BJD government for allowing the state's resources to be exploited by 5–6 private companies. Gandhi claimed that it was evident Adani is running the BJP government in Odisha, citing the instance when the chariot of Lord Jagannath was allegedly stopped during the Puri Rath Yatra for the Adani family. "Development is not meant for just two or three billionaires, but for the poor, the Dalits, and the backward communities," Gandhi said. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of taking thousands of crores from poor farmers in the name of the Fasal Bima Yojana and central government funds, and handing them over to large corporate houses. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha also alleged that the BJP government in Odisha is evicting Adivasis from their land and depriving them of land pattas while allocating the same land to large companies. He emphasized, 'Jal (water), Jungle (forest), and Jameen (land) belong to the Adivasis and will remain with them.' Gandhi assured that the Congress will return land to the Adivasis if voted to power in the state. He reminded the public that the Constitution protects the rights of the poor, Dalits, Adivasis, and backward communities. 'Nowhere in the Constitution is it written that it belongs to Ambani, Adani, or any other billionaire,' he said. Gandhi also remarked that in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, 'wherever you go, you see only Adani, Adani, and Adani.' Expressing serious concern over women's safety in Odisha, he said more than 40,000 women have gone missing in the state, and their whereabouts remain unknown. 'Every day, 15 women are subjected to sexual abuse or rape in the state ,' he said. He called on Congress workers to unite and fight against the BJP government and remove it from power. 'A caste census is a must if you want change in Odisha,' he said, adding that such a census would empower Dalits, Adivasis, the poor, and backward communities. Gandhi also criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing it of working for the BJP. 'The ECI remained silent when we questioned how one crore new voters suddenly appeared between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Maharashtra and asked for the updated voter list,' he said. He alleged that the BJP "stole" the elections in Maharashtra and is now attempting to do the same in Bihar. 'But the Congress will not allow them to steal the elections in Bihar,' he declared. Gandhi also accused the BJP government of pressuring the Drivers' Federation, which is on an indefinite strike, to disrupt the Congress rally. 'But they failed,' he said, thanking the Drivers' Federation for not succumbing to the pressure and for supporting the rally by allowing vehicles to transport Congress workers. UNI DP PRS
United News of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
BJP, ECI have conspired to ‘steal' Bihar election: Rahul Gandhi
Bhubaneswar, July 11 (UNI) Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, on Friday lashed out at BJP and Election Commission of India alleging that 'a new conspiracy has been hatched to 'steal' the upcoming Bihar election'. Addressing the 'Samvidhan Bachao Samavesh' here at Baramunda Ground, the senior congress leader charged that the election was 'stolen' in Maharashtra in the past, similarly an attempt to steal Bihar election is being made. 'BJP is attacking the constitution throughout the country. Yesterday, I was in Bihar. As the election was stolen in Maharashtra, Election Commission of India in collusion with BJP is acting in a similar fashion to steal Bihar election', he said. Accusing ECI of hatching a new conspiracy to steal the election in Bihar, he said the top poll body is acting like an agent of BJP and is not doing its duty. Citing the alleged manipulative practices in Maharashtra, Gandhi said 'as many as one crore new voters were added in between the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. Nobody knows who these voters are and from where they came. We have appealed to the ECI several times to provide us with the voters list, videography, but it has not paid heed to our plea'. Criticising the Odisha model of BJP-led governance, he said, 'The lone work of the BJP government in Odisha is to snatch away the wealth of poor people. The previous BJD government did it in the past. Now the BJP government is doing the same. On one side, there are poor and deprived sections, on the other side, there are five to six billionaires and the BJP government'. Dwelling on the mismanagement during Puri Rath Yatra, Gandhi accused the Odisha government of willfully delaying the pulling of the chariot of Lord Jagannath to enable the family of industrialist Gautam Adani to pull the chariots. "This is the Odisha model of governance. Development is being done to serve the interest of two or three industrialists while the wealth of poor, deprived and marginalized sections are being snatched", he pointed out. UNI XC PRS
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Odisha transport disruption: Protest by nearly 4 lakh drivers hits public services
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel An association of drivers of buses, trucks and other vehicles on Tuesday launched cease work, with thousands of drivers of buses, trucks, vans, taxis, auto rickshaws and other commercial vehicles demanding welfare measures for drivers in the to the protest by drivers, private bus services have been affected in several parts of the state, an official drivers have been staging demonstrations and dharnas in various places across Odisha, an association leader said."Due to the protest by drivers, private bus service has been affected in several parts of the state. Commuters were seen waiting at bus stands in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Balasore, Rourkela, Berhampur, and Bolangir," the official Prasad Behera, treasurer of the association said they want a pension for drivers, who cannot drive after the age of also demanded death benefits, rest sheds every 100 km on major roads and compensation if a driver cannot work after an accident, he association also demanded inclusion of autorickshaw drivers in the Odisha Motor Transport Drivers and Workers' Welfare Board constituted by the government, Behera said the drivers engaged in emergency services and vehicles deployed in Puri Rath Yatra have not participated in the and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena said the government would discuss with the agitating drivers later on that the drivers have some genuine demands, Jena said he is hopeful that a solution would be arrived at the transportation was disrupted in various parts of the country on Wednesday following the 'Bharat Bandh' protests, called by ten central trade unions, Odisha, members of the Khordha District unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) blocked the national highway at Bhubaneswar to support the 'Bharat Bandh'.In Kerala, shops and shopping malls in Kottayam remain closed in support of the 'Bharat Bandh' called by 10 central trade of Biju Janata Dal's (RJD) students' wing blocked the train tracks at Jehanabad railway station in Bihar, supporting 'Bharat Bandh' called by a joint forum of 10 central trade unions and their West Bengal, train services have been affected as protesters blocked tracks at various railway stations, including drivers of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) were seen wearing helmets on duty, a move initiated to ensure their safety.
