Hathras, Pushpa 2 tragedy in Hyderabad: why has stampede become a common phenomenon in India? Explain

Last update:December 16, 2024, 11:28 AM IST

Police receive several requests for security and crowd control at public events, citing the presence of political figures, celebrities or religious functions, the Hyderabad DCP said. However, it is not always possible to organize every event due to limited resources, he added.

A woman was killed and her son was seriously injured during the screening of ‘Pushpa 2’ at a cinema in Hyderabad. Actor Allu Arjun was arrested on Friday evening but released on bail the next morning. (Photo: PTI)

The arrest of actor Allu Arjun following a stampede during the promotion of his film “Pushpa 2” in Hyderabad, which killed a woman and seriously injured her child, has highlighted the failures of the police in handling from the crowd.

After a stampede at a religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras left more than 100 people dead, the Hyderabad incident sends a categorical message that foolproof protocols should have been in place for such events, both by the State and by the film industry.

How did the Hyderabad stampede happen?

On December 4, a stampede broke out at a cinema in Hyderabad where “Pushpa 2” was being screened. The crowd went crazy after Allu Arjun made an “unscheduled” visit to the auditorium, police said.

A 39-year-old woman was killed and her 8-year-old son, Sri Tej, was seriously injured. According to a private hospital where the boy is undergoing treatment, he is on life support with minimal requirements in the pediatric intensive care unit of KIMS Cuddles Hospital in Hyderabad.

The hospital confirmed that the boy is currently in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and on life support. “He is hemodynamically stable and tolerates tube feeding. However, he has intermittent fever, remains in altered sensorium and exhibits dystonic movements,” the statement said, as cited in The Hindu report.

The woman’s husband filed an FIR, which led to the arrest of Allu Arjun on Friday evening. However, the actor was released on interim bail the next morning. The deceased’s husband, who initially wanted to file a case against Allu Arjun, has now said that he is ready to withdraw the case.

Both Allu Arjun and Pushpa 2 director Sukumar expressed deep regret over the incident. The actor met the victim’s family, offered condolences and donated Rs 25 lakh to the family.

What did the Hyderabad Police say about the security arrangements?

Police officials criticized the theater management for not taking additional safety measures for the crowd. “Theatre management did not make any additional arrangements regarding security… even though they had information about their arrival,” police said.

Akshansh Yadav, deputy commissioner of police of Hyderabad Central Zone, said the organizers had simply submitted an application without meeting any police officials. He, however, maintained that adequate security measures were in place at the theater.

He also said police receive many requests for security and crowd control at public events, citing the presence of political figures, celebrities or religious functions. However, police clarified that it is not always possible to organize every event due to limited resources.

“In specific cases where a large crowd is expected or a popular personality is visiting, the organizer personally visits the police station/ACP/DCP office and gives information about the program based on which we are providing the bandobust ( security provision). In this case, the organizer did not meet any officer and simply submitted the letter in the arrival section,” said DCP Yadav.

He added that Allu Arjun, on arrival at the theater, started greeting the crowd. His private security began pushing people aside to make room for his vehicle. The frenzy led to chaos. The actor’s team was instructed to take him out of the room, but they failed to comply.

The DCP also issued a statement denying that the police misbehaved with the actor. “When the police arrived at his home, he asked for some time to change. He entered his room, the police waited for him outside and arrested him when he came out. There was no use of force or any reprehensible behavior towards him on the part of the police officers. He had enough time to interact with his family and wife and he himself came out and got into the police vehicle,” Yadav said.

Stampedes in India

Data from “Human stampedes at religious festivals: A comparative review of mass gathering emergencies in India, 2013” ​​showed that 79% of stampedes in India occur during religious gatherings and pilgrimages.

The risk of stampede is increased by the location of many major temples on hills, river banks or other uneven terrain. Additionally, the tradition of large religious gatherings in rural areas often sees thousands of worshipers congregate in cramped spaces, lacking basic facilities such as proper entry and exit points in case of emergency.

In July, 116 people died during a ‘Satsang’ in Hathras. Police officials claim that the tragedy occurred due to overcrowding in the religious congregation organized by ‘Godman’ ‘Bhole Baba’ in Pulrai village. The victims were crushed as they rushed to leave. Video of the aftermath showed the structure appeared to have collapsed, and authorities said heat, overcrowding and suffocation could be factors.

In 2008, nearly 168 pilgrims were killed and 100 injured during a stampede at the Chamunda Mata temple in Jodhpur on September 30, 2008. Severe overcrowding apparently caused the crush as more than 12,000 people gathered at the temple to celebrate Navratri.

In another stampede during a religious gathering at the Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh on August 3, 2008, 162 people died. Rumors of a landslide apparently sparked panic, according to a senior government official.

In 2005, a stampede at Maharashtra’s Mandhardevi temple in Wai led to the death of more than 340 devotees.

The most notable stampede in Indian history took place in 1954 in Allahabad during the Kumbh Mela festival in which 800 people died. The first post-independence Kumbh was plagued by a lack of crowd control mechanisms, poor planning and excessive presence of VIPs. The tragedy occurred after a crowd broke through the barriers, separating them from a procession of sadhus.

How do shoving happen and how can you prevent them?

Stampedes are often triggered or made worse by panic. In a seminal article, psychologist Alexander Mintz theorized that “in situations that generate panic, cooperative behavior is necessary for success and is rewarding for individuals as long as everyone cooperates.” However, once the pattern of cooperative behavior is disrupted, cooperation ceases to be rewarding for individuals” (“Nonadaptive Group Behavior,” 1952).

According to experts, lack of light, poor crowd flow management, collapsing barriers, blocked exits and escape routes, poor equipment design and fire risks play a crucial role in the decision on how spaces for mass gatherings should be decided.

To prevent such tragic events from occurring, the planner should not allow more than a specific number of people into a confined space. The researchers also emphasize live crowd monitoring to ensure organizers can monitor “pressure buildup, increased crowd density, bottlenecks, and identify the source of disruptions of the crowd.”