Introduction
Overview: On July 2, 2024, a stampede during a religious gathering in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, resulted in 121 fatalities, predominantly women and children. This tragic event highlights the critical need for effective crowd management and accountability in organizing large-scale events.
Significance: The incident underscores systemic failures and calls for a comprehensive analysis to prevent future occurrences.
Initial Application and Oversight
1. Application for Permission
Approval Process: The event was approved by district authorities following an application for a samagam (congregation of devotees) expecting around 80,000 attendees.
Lack of Anticipation: Authorities did not anticipate that the actual crowd could exceed the sanctioned number, leading to over 250,000 attendees, more than three times the expected number.
2. Background of the Event and Organizers
Bhole Baba’s Background: Bhole Baba, formerly Suraj Pal Singh, a UP police constable with a history of misdemeanors, reinvented himself as a godman after opting for voluntary retirement. He was accused of multiple cases of misconduct during his tenure in the police force.
Organizational Model: His followers, known as Sivam Sevaks, organize satsangs and enforce strict controls on photography and mobile phone use to maintain secrecy. They also spread the message that his photographs have curative qualities, attracting a large following from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh.
Police Presence: The police presence at the event was minimal, raising questions about whether adequate security measures were implemented and if the practice of charging event organizers for police deployment was followed.
Failures in Crowd Management
1. Lack of Contingency Planning
Crowd Influx: The arrival of 250,000 people over seven to eight hours should have prompted immediate action, but no contingency plan was in place. This large influx was not monitored or controlled effectively.
Traffic Jams: The venue’s proximity to a national highway caused significant traffic jams, which should have alerted the city and district control rooms to the escalating situation.
2. Absence of Security Measures
CCTV and Security: There were no CCTVs or proper exit and entry points, which are crucial for managing such large gatherings. The absence of these measures contributed to the chaos.
Duty Assignments: Duty cards and assigned roles were missing, indicating a lack of organized security protocol and preparedness for emergency situations.
Communication Failures: There was likely a breakdown in communication between event organizers and local authorities, which exacerbated the situation.
Medical Response and Investigation
1. Delayed Medical Aid
Post-Mortem Findings: Most deaths were caused by broken rib cages, crushing, asphyxia, and hemorrhage. The severity of these injuries highlights the intensity of the stampede.
Medical Negligence: There was a delay in providing medical aid, which needs thorough investigation. The timely deployment of medical services could have saved lives.
2. Legal and Investigative Actions
FIR and SIT: A First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against sevadar volunteers, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to investigate. The SIT’s functioning should be transparent and expedited to ensure accountability.
Prosecution of Bhole Baba: The possibility of prosecuting Bhole Baba under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, and the UP Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986, is being considered. This could help curb the influence of such godmen and their deceptive practices.
Lessons from Hathras Stampede
1. Scholarly Insights and Best Practices
Crowd Management Studies: Scholarly studies on past tragedies provide guidelines for effective crowd management. These studies highlight the importance of anticipating crowd behavior and implementing preventative measures.
Implementation of Best Practices: The worst possible implementation of the rule book was evident in this case, highlighting the need for adherence to best practices and guidelines.
2. Government Accountability
White Paper and Responsibility: The government should fix responsibility and issue a white paper detailing how such congregations should ideally be organized. This would provide a framework for future events and prevent similar tragedies.
Urgency of Transparency: The SIT must function transparently and submit its report urgently to ensure justice and prevent future incidents.
Conclusion
Preventable Tragedy: The Hathras stampede was an avoidable tragedy caused by administrative oversight and lack of proper crowd management. The lessons learned from this incident must be applied to prevent future occurrences.
Need for Reforms: Comprehensive reforms and adherence to established guidelines are essential to prevent such tragedies and ensure the safety of attendees at large gatherings.
Note: In this CAPF essay, the world limit has been crossed to give you more information, you can take relevant portions as per your need. Further, we have given subheadings for your reference. When you write in the UPSC exam, you don't need to do that.
Relevance for Competitive Exams
UPSC CSE and CAPF Preparation: This article provides insights into disaster management, crowd control, and administrative accountability, relevant for essay writing and current affairs.
Application to Multiple Exams: Understanding such incidents is crucial for exams like NDA, CDS, SSB Interview, AFCAT, IAS, and IB ACIO. This knowledge helps candidates prepare for questions on disaster management, governance, and public safety.
Current Affairs Importance: Grasping the broader implications of such events helps in comprehensive exam preparation and understanding the necessity of effective governance and administrative practices.
Comments