Stampede in Tirupati 

Syllabus: GS3/Disaster Management

Context

• Stampede in Tirupati caused the loss of life during the Vaikunthadwara Darshan.

About Stampede

• Stampede is an impulsive mass movement of a crowd that often results in injuries and deaths.
  • When panic spreads, people push forward, causing a domino effect where individuals fall and get trampled. 
• Although lakhs of devotees visit Tirupati everyday, stampedes have been rare.
• 79% of all stampedes in India from 1954-2012 took place in religious mass gatherings.

Causes of Stampede

• Lack of light;
• Crowd flow not being divided for different crowds;
• Collapse of barriers, buildings;
• Blocked exits, evacuation route;
• Poor infrastructure design (such as having a revolving door at the entrance); and
• Fire hazards.

Why Stampede Mostly Occur at Religious Places?

• Huge Gatherings: Religious gatherings often attract millions of devotees, far exceeding the venue’s capacity. 
• Ancient Structures: These ancient structures are ill-equipped to handle large crowds due to their narrow pathways, limited exits, and posed challenges in  managing massive gatherings in confined spaces.
• Other Causes: Poor crowd management, lack of proper security measures, and insufficient emergency protocols further exacerbate the situation. 
• Reasons for Casualties: 
  • Primary cause of death in stampedes is trauma, often resulting from blunt force injuries. 
  • Many casualties are caused by traumatic asphyxia — there is partial or complete cessation of respiration. 
  • Other reasons include heart attack, direct crushing injury to internal organs, head injuries, and neck compression.

Preventive Measures

• Better Design: Many stampedes can be prevented simply through better design of spaces where mass gatherings take place. 
• Maintaining Crowd Density: Crowd density (number of people per unit of area) should play a crucial role in determining how spaces for mass gatherings should be decided. 
• Crowd Management: Ensure adequate space, clear signage, and designated entry/exit points.
• Staff Training: Train personnel to manage crowds and recognize risks.
• Real-Time Monitoring: Use sensors and cameras to monitor crowd density.
• Public Communication: Provide clear announcements and pre-event safety guidelines.
• Emergency Exits: Ensure multiple, well-marked emergency exits.
• Staggered Entry: Implement timed or staggered entry to avoid congestion.
• Weather Preparedness: Plan for weather impacts on crowd behavior.
• Rapid Response: Have medical teams and evacuation plans in place.

Source: IE