Hathras stampede
Relevance: GS III- Disaster Management
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Why in News: A tragic stampede at a religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district led to the deaths of at least 121 people, with the majority being women.
About Stampedes
A stampede occurs when the orderly movement of crowds is disrupted, resulting in injuries and fatalities. This sudden mass movement often happens in response to perceived danger, loss of physical space, or the desire to obtain something perceived as rewarding.
How Human Psychology Leads to Stampedes
- Nature of Mass Gatherings: Stampedes occur during mass gatherings, whether spontaneous (e.g., rush hour in metro stations) or planned (e.g., religious satsangs like Hathras).
- Role of Panic: Panic triggers or exacerbates stampedes. Psychologist Alexander Mintz’s theory highlights that in panic-inducing situations, cooperation is initially rewarding. However, once disrupted, cooperation ceases to benefit individuals, leading to chaotic behaviors like pushing.
- Example of Fire Emergencies: Mintz’s example of a fire in a movie theater illustrates how pushing may become the least disadvantageous behavior for survival when exits are blocked, even though it worsens the stampede scenario collectively.
- Sociological Perspective – Neil J Smelser: Sociologist Neil J Smelser’s concept of “craze” in his Theory of Collective Behavior (1962) explains mobilization based on a positive belief, rational or irrational. In large groups, this belief spreads and can override individual interests, contributing to stampedes.
- Case Study – Hathras Stampede: In the Hathras incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh attributed the stampede to people rushing to touch the preacher’s feet and collect soil he had walked on, illustrating how a collective belief or craze can lead to tragic outcomes in mass gatherings.
What are the primary reasons for stampedes occurring in India?
Category | Causes |
Structural Causes | 🏗️ Structural and design failures in buildings, bridges, etc. |
🌉 Structural collapse of makeshift bridges, railings, temporary structures | |
🚧 Improper and unauthorized built structures | |
🌉 Panic-triggered collapse of bridge railings due to rumors | |
⛰️ Difficult terrain at religious sites (e.g., hills) | |
🛣️ Narrow streets with few entry/exits | |
🚪 Absence of emergency exits | |
Fire/Electricity Causes | 🔥 Fire in makeshift facilities or shops |
🧯 Lack of functional fire extinguishers | |
🔌 Violations of building and fire codes, unauthorized fireworks | |
⚡ Electricity supply failures causing panic and exodus | |
🚫 Illegal electrical connections and faulty equipment | |
Crowd Behaviour | 🏃♂️ Panic-driven behavior in large groups |
🕺 Rushing at venue entrances/exits during events | |
🎪 Chaos during disaster relief distribution | |
🎟️ Overcrowding at promotional events | |
😡 Unruly and irresponsible crowd behavior | |
🚂 Sudden changes in train platform resulting in mass movements | |
Security Issues | 👮♂️ Under-deployment and inadequate training of security personnel |
🚔 Insufficient rehearsals and briefings on crowd control | |
🚨 Ineffective police management and enforcement of prohibitory orders | |
🎥 Lack of observation towers and CCTV surveillance | |
📢 Absence of public announcement systems for crowd regulation | |
🛡️ Inadequate road opening parties and security measures | |
Coordination Issues | 🤝 Lack of coordination among agencies (e.g., police, district officials) |
💼 Poor implementation of infrastructure plans due to resource constraints | |
🚰 Insufficient water, medical assistance, and transport/parking facilities | |
📞 Communication delays | |
⏰ Delayed appointment of key personnel |
Stampede Statistics In India
According to data collated by F.T. Illyas and others, 79% of all stampedes in India from 1954-2012 took place in religious mass gatherings (“Human stampedes during religious festivals: A comparative review of mass gathering emergencies in India”, 2013).
Some notable deadly stampedes
Event | Location | Year | Description |
Moscow Stampede | Moscow, Russia | 1896 | Occurred on the eve of Russian Tsar Nicholas II’s coronation. Over 1,000 people died due to a surge in the crowd, driven by rumors of souvenir shortages. |
Allahabad Stampede | Allahabad, India | 1954 | During the Kumbh Mela, a surge in the crowd broke barriers separating them from a procession of sadhus. Around 800 fatalities resulted from poor crowd control and VIP presence. |
Lima Stampede | Lima, Peru | 1963 | During a soccer match between Peru and Argentina, tear gas fired by police to control rioting fans caused panic. 326 people died in enclosed stairways with blocked exits. |
Wai Stampede | Wai, India | 2005 | At the Mandhardevi temple pilgrimage in Maharashtra, slippery steps caused by broken coconuts led to a stampede. Over 340 deaths occurred. |
Mina Stampede | Mina, Saudi Arabia | 2015 | During the Hajj pilgrimage, intersecting pilgrim groups caused a deadly stampede. Official reports stated 769 deaths, but other sources claim over 2,000 fatalities. |
Causes of Casualties in Stampedes
- Traumatic Asphyxia: Partial or complete inability to breathe due to external compression on the chest and/or upper abdomen, leading to respiratory failure.
- Myocardial Infarction: Occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is reduced or stopped, resulting in a heart attack due to lack of oxygen and nutrients.
- Crushing Injuries and Trauma: Direct crushing of internal organs, head injuries, and compression of the neck due to the force and pressure exerted during stampedes, causing severe bodily harm and sometimes death.
Strategies to Prevent and Mitigate Stampedes
- Controlled Entry and Exit: Limiting the number of people entering a confined space to prevent overcrowding. Ensuring adequate and strategically placed exits is crucial in managing crowd flow and reducing the risk of stampedes.
- Vigilance and Monitoring: Continuous vigilance by event organizers through live surveillance of the crowd. Monitoring for signs of pressure buildup, increasing crowd density, and identifying potential bottlenecks or disturbances can enable timely interventions.
- Inter-agency Coordination: Adopting an inter-agency, multi-disciplinary approach to event planning. This involves collaboration among various stakeholders (temple authorities, local administration officials, police) to identify hazards and implement appropriate mitigation measures.
- Communication Strategies: Establishing effective communication channels between organizers and different agencies involved. Clear protocols should be in place for issuing warnings or instructions to the crowd in case of emergencies. Organizers must determine responsible parties for issuing warnings and ensure that communication reaches all attendees effectively.
NDMA’s Guidelines for Crowd Management
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is responsible for issuing guidelines for managing disasters, including those related to large crowds, under the Disaster Management Act 2005. The guidelines aim to ensure the safety and well-being of people during mass gatherings by providing a structured approach to crowd management
Definition of Crowd Management
Crowd management involves systematic planning and supervision to ensure the orderly movement and assembly of people. This includes measures to prevent overcrowding and ensure the safety of attendees.
Key Guidelines
Planning and Risk Assessment
- Proper Planning: Event organizers should conduct a thorough risk assessment and develop a comprehensive crowd management plan. This plan should address potential hazards and outline strategies to mitigate them.
- Emergency Preparedness: Organizers must have contingency plans for emergencies such as fires, stampedes, and natural disasters. This includes having medical and ambulance services on standby.
Crowd Control Measures
- Barricading and Queue Management: Using barricades to ensure orderly movement and prevent overcrowding is crucial. This helps in managing the flow of people and maintaining control over large crowds.
- Ticketing Systems: Implementing ticketing systems can help regulate the number of attendees and prevent overselling, which can lead to dangerous overcrowding .
Security and Surveillance
- CCTV Monitoring: Installing CCTV cameras to monitor crowd movement and ensure police presence can help reduce the risk of crimes such as snatching and other petty offenses.
- Inadequate Security: Ensuring sufficient deployment of safety teams to avoid drastic measures like firing teargas.
Communication and Coordination
- Inter-Agency Coordination: Effective communication and coordination between event organizers, security personnel, and emergency responders are essential for timely responses to emergencies. This includes coordination among fire services, police, and other administrative agencies
- Public Awareness: Educating attendees about exit routes, staying calm, and following instructions can help prevent panic and stampede-like situations.
Training and Technology
- Training Personnel: Crowd management personnel should be trained in crowd control techniques, first aid, and emergency response procedures.
- Use of Technology: Employing advanced technologies like facial recognition can enhance crowd management efforts, as seen in events like the Kumbh Mela.
Safety Precautions
- Fire and Electrical Safety: Ensuring the authorized use of electricity and having fire safety extinguishers in place are critical. Organizers should also be prepared for electric and fire disasters caused by improper wiring or use of firecrackers.
- Structural Safety: Addressing structural failures such as narrow buildings, illegal structures, and makeshift stalls that can obstruct pedestrian movement.
Medical and Emergency Response
- Medical Emergencies: Having healthcare professionals and ambulances on standby can save lives during medical emergencies in crowded spaces.
- Emergency Exit Routes: Clearly marked route maps for reaching the venue and emergency exits should be displayed at strategic points.
Crowd Behavior and Safety Tips
- Minimizing Panic: Reducing the size of the crowd and avoiding overselling tickets can help manage crowd behavior and prevent panic.
- Personal Safety Tips: Attendees should protect their chest by placing their hands like a boxer and keep moving in the direction of the crowd during a stampede. Wearing light, cotton clothes and knowing basic fire safety tricks like rolling on the ground can also be lifesaving.
Way Forward
- Legislative Framework: Implementation of comprehensive legislation addressing tortuous liability, as emphasized by the Supreme Court following the Uphaar Cinema Tragedy.
- Enhanced Professionalism: Emphasis on professional management involving effective communication, on-ground interventions, specialized training for personnel, safety measures like insurance, online feedback systems, transparency, and adherence to statutory requirements.
- Utilization of Technology: Adoption of advanced technologies such as HD IP cameras with Video Management Software (VMS), mobile control rooms, drones for overhead surveillance, facial recognition systems, and robotic assistance to enhance security and crowd management at crowded venues.
- Capacity Assessment: Thorough evaluation of venue capacities and infrastructure to ensure they can safely accommodate mass gatherings. Addressing existing infrastructure shortcomings to prevent accidents.
- Crowd Control Strategies: Implementation of public address systems to counter misinformation, manage panic, and facilitate orderly crowd movement during events.
- Enforcement and Penalties: Enforcing strict penalties, including license revocation for violations related to construction and fire safety. Regular inspections and random checks to ensure compliance with safety standards.
- Community Engagement: Involvement of local NGOs and civilian organizations in event management to enhance preparedness, mobilize local resources, and assist with traffic control.
- Adoption of Global Practices: Learning and adopting best practices from global examples of crowd management, such as those observed during the Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah, to improve stampede management strategies in India.
GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT)
Relevance: GS III- Economy
Why in News: Nirmala Sitharaman, the Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, recently oversaw the swearing-in ceremony of retired Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra as the President of the GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) in New Delhi.
The Need for GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT):
- Industry Demand: Industry stakeholders have eagerly awaited the establishment of GSTAT, as they have been resorting to High Courts and the Supreme Court for resolution over the past six years.
- Rising Appeals: There has been a significant increase in appeals against the orders of first Appellate Authorities, with cases more than doubling in the last two years, from 5,499 in 2020-21 to 11,899 in 2022-23.
- Pending Cases: The surge in appeals has led to a sharp rise in pending cases, with over 14,000 appeals pending as of June 30, 20% higher than the preceding year.
Background of GSTAT:
- Envisaged Establishment: The establishment of GSTAT was proposed at the inception of the GST regime in July 2017.
- Legislative Authority: The Central Government, empowered by the CGST Act and on the recommendation of the GST Council, is responsible for constituting the Appellate Tribunal known as GSTAT.
- Consensus on Functioning: In July 2023, the GST Council reached a consensus on the operational framework of the long-awaited appellate body.
Overview of GSTAT:
- Jurisdiction: GSTAT handles appeals against orders issued by the Appellate Authority under the Central and State GST Acts.
- Bench Composition: Appeals concerning disputes of less than Rs. 50 lakh and not involving questions of law may be decided by a single-member bench.
- Common Forum: GSTAT serves as the primary forum for second appeal in GST laws and facilitates dispute resolution between the Center and States, ensuring uniformity in GST implementation nationwide.
Significance of GSTATs:
- Expedited Adjudication: GSTATs will accelerate the adjudication process and provide tax certainty, particularly in recurrent legal disputes.
- Business Sentiment Boost: Dedicated and specialized GSTATs will enhance business sentiments and promote ease of doing business by facilitating speedy and cost-effective case resolution.
- Relief for Taxpayers: Tribunal decisions will offer relief to taxpayers burdened by high pre-deposit rates, providing them with avenues for redressal.