Why in News: A political rally by actor and TVK founder Vijay in Karur, Tamil Nadu, on September 27, 2025, led to a crowd crush killing 41 people, prompting the Tamil Nadu government to set up a one-member inquiry commission and announce plans to frame new rules for public events.
National-Level Measures
- BPR&D Guidelines (2025): Promote scientific crowd control—risk assessment, real-time monitoring, emergency response teams.
- NDMA Framework (2020): Lays out model crowd management plans with entry–exit routes, command centres, and communication networks.
- NIDM Trainings: Conducts modules for police and district officials on managing mass gatherings.
- Indian Railways’ Updates (2025): Introduced holding areas and dispersal zones at 60 high-footfall stations after a Delhi incident.
- However, these remain advisory, lacking statutory enforcement.
State-Level Initiatives
- Karnataka: Crowd Control Bill, 2025 — makes guidelines enforceable, fixes organiser liability, allows cancellation or penalties.
- Uttar Pradesh: Guidelines (2023) formalise planning for religious/cultural events.
- Gujarat: Developed scientific training for calculating site capacity and ensuring first aid, fire safety.
- Uttarakhand & Maharashtra: Issued temple and mela safety orders post-stampede events.
- Most measures are reactive and administrative, not legal mandates.
Scientific Principles of Crowd Safety
- Fatal risk rises beyond 5 persons/sq.m.
- Drone-based surveillance, avoidance of bottlenecks, and smooth dispersal flow are crucial.
- Individuals should move diagonally, protect breathing space, and avoid rigid barriers.
Way Forward
- Legal Framework: Enact a National Crowd Safety Act to make guidelines mandatory with criminal and civil liability for organisers.
- Pre-event Clearances: Mandate crowd safety certification from district authorities before event approval.
- Technological Integration: Deploy real-time AI monitoring, crowd sensors, and geospatial mapping.
- Accountability: Fix shared responsibility among organisers, police, and district administration.
- Public Awareness: Include crowd safety education in disaster management curricula and public campaigns.
- Institutional Mechanism: Establish State Crowd Safety Cells under Disaster Management Authorities.
UPSC Relevance:
GS Paper-2 – Governance, Disaster Management.
Mains Question:
Q. Examine India’s preparedness for managing large gatherings and the need for statutory crowd-safety mechanisms.