When celebration turns to chaos: A grim pattern of stampede tragedies in India

Economic Times

04-06-2025

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On what should have been a jubilant day for Bengaluru, the atmosphere outside the iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium turned harrowing. A celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's first Indian Premier League (IPL) title quickly spiraled into a nightmare. As the victorious team arrived in a bus on Wednesday evening, thousands of fans had gathered, waving team flags and chanting in euphoria. But the joy was short-lived — at least seven people were killed in a stampede that followed, as per TV reports.The visuals were chilling. A police officer was seen carrying a limp body to an ambulance. Another victim lay unconscious on the road as bystanders scrambled to help. A moment meant to honour sporting glory ended in trauma and loss, with many pointing to crowd mismanagement and a lack of preparedness for such a massive turnout.Sadly, this is not an isolated tragedy.Just three months ago, on February 15, New Delhi Railway Station witnessed a similar descent into chaos. Around 10 pm, platforms 13 and 14 were packed with more than 1,500 general ticket holders trying to board trains like the Prayagraj Express and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani. Overwhelming congestion, fainting spells, and panic led to a stampede-like situation that claimed 18 lives.Initial reports labelled it a stampede. The Railways later claimed it was 'only overcrowding.' But for families who lost loved ones in the crush of humanity, the terminology is cold comfort. Investigations pointed to a surge linked to the upcoming Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj — a pilgrimage known to draw tens of millions — but failed to explain how basic crowd management failed at one of India's busiest stations.And when it comes to the Maha Kumbh, tragedy has been a recurring visitor. In January 2025, during the Mauni Amavasya holy dip at the Sangam, a broken barricade on the overcrowded Akhara route triggered a deadly stampede. In the early hours between 1 and 2 AM, panic spread like wildfire. By the time order was restored, 30 were dead and over 60 injured. Despite advisories and emergency preparations, the weight of expectations—and people—proved too much once again.In July 2024, an even graver disaster unfolded in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district. After a religious gathering addressed by preacher Saakar Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba, at least 116 people — mostly women and children — were crushed to death in a stampede. Survivors recounted a terrifying mix of poor infrastructure, blocked exits, and absolute pandemonium as the crowd surged, some seeking blessings, others simply trying to leave.In January 2022, at least 12 people died in a stampede at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir after a huge crowd tried to enter the narrow shrine premises.Back in October 2013, around 115 devotees were killed and over a hundred injured at the Ratangarh temple in Madhya Pradesh during Navratri celebrations, when more than 150,000 people converged on the site.In February 2013, 36 pilgrims, mostly women, died in a stampede on the busiest day of the Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh. The chaos began at the Allahabad railway station amid massive crowds.The list goes on...Across these incidents, a pattern emerges: inadequate planning, lack of exit routes, broken barricades, absent or ineffective crowd control, and above all, a failure to respect the scale of public emotion that drives thousands — sometimes lakhs — to congregate.Whether it's a cricket celebration, a railway rush, or a religious ritual, India continues to grapple with a grim truth — joy and devotion can turn deadly in the absence of foresight. Each tragedy leaves behind grieving families, unanswered questions, and a promise from authorities to investigate and improve.