{"id":333430,"date":"2025-12-07T18:07:16","date_gmt":"2025-12-07T18:07:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/public-safety-and-liability-in-mass-gatherings\/"},"modified":"2025-12-07T18:07:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-07T18:07:16","slug":"public-safety-and-liability-in-mass-gatherings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=333430","title":{"rendered":"PUBLIC SAFETY AND LIABILITY IN MASS GATHERINGS"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n
<\/p>\n

\n
\n

India is a with large population and with rich cultural heritage. India witnesses mass gatherings in religious festivals, political rallies and sports celebrations that often draw enormous crowds. These events shows the nation\u2019s spirit but it sometimes ends in tragic consequences. For example events like the Kumbh Mela, considered as the world\u2019s largest religious gatherings, that attracts millions of devotees, Vaishno Devi Shrine and Ratangarh Temple are some of the religious stampedes. The 2025 stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru\u2019s IPL Victory parade is the latest reminder of the risks and doubts the legal responsibility and public safety.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years at Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), is the world\u2019s largest religious gathering, attracting tens of millions of pilgrims. Despite its spiritual significance, the event has a long and tragic history of deadly stampedes and crowd crushes, exposing critical challenges in public safety and legal liability.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The Kumbh Mela has witnessed multiple fatal stampedes over the past two centuries, <\/span>from 1954 to 2025<\/span><\/u><\/a>\u00a0with some of the most severe occurring in:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1954 Prayag Kumbh Mela: Over 800 pilgrims died in a stampede during Mauni Amavasya, triggered by a crowd surge near the riverbank and exacerbated by narrowing space due to the Ganges changing course. The disaster was worsened by inadequate crowd control and the presence of VIPs, which diverted attention from general safety. The tragedy led to a judicial inquiry headed by Justice Kamala Kant Verma, whose recommendations shaped future crowd management policies.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1986 Haridwar Kumbh: Around 200 deaths.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

2003 Nashik Kumbh:39 deaths and over 100 injuries.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

2013 Prayagraj: 42 deaths after a footbridge collapse.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

2025 Maha Kumbh Mela: At least 30 deaths and 90 injuries in a stampede caused by a barrier collapse during Mauni Amavasya.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
HATHRAS STAMPEDE, UTTAR PRADESH<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n
\n
On July 2, 2024, a deadly stampede at a religious gathering in Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh, claimed the lives of at least <\/span>121 people<\/span><\/u><\/a>, mostly women and children. The event was a satsang (prayer meeting) led by Hindu guru Suraj Pal, popularly known as Bhole Baba. This tragedy is one of the deadliest crowd disasters in recent Indian history and highlights critical issues of public safety and legal liability in mass gatherings.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Around 250,000 devotees gathered at the event, though permission was granted only for 80,000 attendees. The venue was a muddy field with a large makeshift tent.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
The stampede occurred as the event was ending, when many devotees surged forward to touch the guru\u2019s feet as he left the stage. Overcrowding, heat, humidity, and poor infrastructure contributed to panic and chaos inside the enclosed tent. Some people slipped on the muddy ground, causing a domino effect. Reports indicate that attempts were made by organizers to destroy evidence, including throwing victims\u2019 clothes and footwear into nearby fields.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
On June 4,2025: The RCB IPL victory celebrations at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, crowd numbers where more than the venue\u2019s capacity which led to the stampede resulted in <\/span>11 deaths<\/span><\/u><\/a>\u00a0and many of the people where injured. The capacity of the stadium\u2019s capacity is just 35,000 but the fans were more than 3-4 lakhs flooded in the area which overwhelming for organisers and <\/span>security.Fans<\/span><\/a> tried to force their way towards narrow gates and led to panic and chaos. Emergency services struggled to reach the injured people as the crowd surged, and scattered shoe and jerseys were torn.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
The causes of the incident include<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Crowd far exceeded than the planned capacity and the security measures were insufficient.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Entry was free which led to the uncontrolled attendance of people.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Overcrowding and poor coordination among organisers.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Insufficient or narrow entry and exit points.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lack of real time crowd monitoring using CCTV and drones.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Behavioural triggers like rumours, panic and surges.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Structural failures like in the event a temporary slab was collapsed.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
FIR were registered against RCB, the event management company, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association. Four people including event mangers and RCB representatives were also arrested.The Karnataka Government announced <\/span>Rs.10 lakh compensation<\/span><\/u><\/a>\u00a0per deceased and ordered a magisterial inquiry. RCB franchise also announced compensation for affected families. The High Court took suo moto cognizance and top police officials were suspended.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n