The Science is Clear, Crowd Disasters are Preventable
pwonlyias.com/editorial-analysis/crowd-disasters-are-preventable/
January 31, 2025
Recently, a tragic crowd crush at the Maha Kumbh claimed the lives of 30 people.
Crowd Crush Disasters
Global Issue: Crowd disasters have occurred frequently worldwide at religious
pilgrimages, sporting events, and music concerts.
Preventable Tragedy: Despite being well understood, scientifically predictable,
and preventable, such incidents continue to happen.
Governments and event organizers must use this tragedy as a turning
point for stronger safety measures.
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Reasons for Crowd Crush Disasters
Density Thresholds: Studies show that at five people per square metre, injuries
become likely; at seven people per square metre, the risk of death is high.
Space Constraints: When crowds are forced into small spaces or blocked
behind barriers, density increases rapidly, leading to crushes.
Preliminary reports suggest that crowd buildup behind a barrier led to
dangerous compression, causing fatalities.
Global Examples : Crowd disasters have occurred across the world,
demonstrating the urgency of preventive measures:
Houston, U.S. (Nov 2021): 10 people died at a music festival due to
overcrowding.
Itaewon, South Korea (Oct 2022): A Halloween festival crush killed 159
people.
Sanaa, Yemen (Apr 2023): Nearly 90 people died in a crowd surge at a
charity distribution event.
Nigeria (Dec 2024): 35 people lost their lives in a religious festival
stampede.
Misconceptions: Crowd disasters are often blamed on “out-of-control” crowds,
reinforcing harmful stereotypes.
Scientific Reality: Victims are not at fault—crowd crushes occur due to poor
planning and mismanagement, not individual behavior.
Limited Individual Control:
Crowd members cannot perceive the density of the entire crowd.
Once densities become critical, individuals lose control over their
movement and breathing.
No Legal Obligation: In most countries, promoters, planners, and local
governments are not legally required to implement crowd safety measures.
Industry Resistance: Event organizers often oppose stricter laws, fearing
restrictions on attendance and revenue.
Maximizing Profits: Organizers have a financial incentive to overpack venues
to increase ticket sales and maximize on-site spending on food, merchandise,
and concessions.
Safety vs. Revenue Conflict: Without regulations, profit motives override
safety concerns, putting attendees at risk.
Way Forward
Crowd Density Management: The responsibility to prevent disasters lies with
governments, event organizers, and planners.
Proven Safety Measures: Authorities can implement simple, cost-effective
steps to prevent crowd crushes:
Increase Entry and Exit Points: Prevents bottlenecks and ensures
smoother crowd flow.
Stagger Arrivals: Spreads the crowd over time, reducing sudden surges.
Ensure Clear Pathways: Removes obstacles that could create dangerous
choke points.
Segmentation: Prevent excessive crowd build-up in a single space.
Best Practice Example: Each year, New Year’s Eve celebrations at Times Square
implement crowd segmentation.
The crowd is divided into small sections of ~100 people each.
This prevents mass clustering and keeps density levels manageable.
Simple, low-cost, and highly effective at reducing crowd-related risks.
Policy Reforms: The Maha Kumbh tragedy should push governments to
introduce mandatory crowd safety laws.
Crowd Density Limits: Enforce maximum people-per-square-meter thresholds.
Infrastructure Adjustments: Mandate clear pathways, emergency exits, and
crowd flow management.
Accountability for Organizers: Require crowd safety plans as part of event
permits.
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Conclusion
Delaying reforms risks more deaths at mass gatherings. Simple, low-cost measures
can prevent crush incidents while ensuring enjoyable events. Governments must
prioritize public safety over profit motives, enforcing sensible laws to prevent future
tragedies.
Mains Practice Question:
Q. Despite crowd crushes being scientifically well-understood and preventable,
they continue to occur frequently. Critically analyze the reasons behind the failure
to implement effective crowd management strategies in modern societies. (15
Marks, 250 Words)
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