Stampedes : cases of avoidable deaths ?
Context :
Survivors relive Vaishno Devi shrine horror: ‘some fell, were run over’ / Indian Express / 02 Jan 2022
Extract :
The stampede that killed 12 pilgrims at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in J&K early on Saturday also left indelible scars in the minds of those who survived the horror.
Seventeen-year-old Ayush from Delhi was returning from the shrine when he saw people ahead, near a police checkpoint, turn back and run.
“There was no one to control the crowd. No one even checked our yatra slips and Covid test certificates,” he said.
Blaming the Shrine Board for the tragedy, he said: “They could have at least made announcements on the public address system, asking people to stand where they are.”
“Before we could react, we saw a crowd of 300-400 people rushing in our direction.
Describing the scene, Sharma said there was “chaos everywhere”.
“Near the Manokamna Bhawan in the complex, another group of 400-500 people was pushing others aside to move forward. Suddenly, people started running in all directions. There was no one to control the crowd. As some fell, others ran over them,” he said.
“They were pushing others aside to move forward. Some minor children were standing there, and some parents were pushing some of them away to save their own children from getting trampled,” he said.
MY TAKE :
Ø With regularity, such stampedes occur at religious places in India
Ø But, it seems, authorities have failed to implement “ Preventive Steps / Measures “
Ø Following are the e-mails that I have sent in past to Authorities, suggesting simple methods which will NEVER allow a stampede to take place :
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Some learn : Some just won’t !........................ [ 13 Oct 2013 ]
Extract :
Construct separate / barricaded pathways ( even if temporary ) for coming and returning traffic
· Ensure single-person movement within these pathways (ala Tirupati )
· Depute just 500 policemen all along the path to regulate the surge of the crowd
· Provide CCTV-control booths at intervals of 500 meters each
· Provide CCTV based “ Darshan “ of the deity along the way ( ala Shirdi SaiBaba )
· Continuously issue instructions over Public Announcement System
· Patrol the entire stretch with Police Vans and Ambulances
· Make provision for water along the way
· Get NGOs to help regulate traffic by providing volunteers
SIMPLE SOLUTION for STEMPEDE…………………………. [ 24 Sept 2015 ]
Extract :
Stampedes occur when, in a narrow path, some people make a run ( rush ) , for whatever reason , trying to overtake people in front walking normally
The surest - and the safest - way to prevent stampede is :
Simply ensure no one can outrun persons walking in front !
Eminently possible !
Just install , one above another ( vertically ) , several rope-ways with hanging chairs for 2 persons per chair , safely secured by belts
All rope-ways picking up pilgrims at the Boarding Station and then dropping off at the Disembarkation Station , on the opposite side
Each rope-way moving at variable speeds controlled by CONTROL ROOM
At other places , this concept of horizontally moving conveyors carrying stationary persons , can be replicated with some variations
This automatic arrangement will make it possible for the Authorities enable sick / old / children to perform the pilgrimage !
Will Dr Mahesh Sharma ( Minister for Tourism / Govt of India ) , consider this idea for Maha-Kumbh Mela / Tirupati / Sai Dham , Shirdi / Sinhasth Kumbh , Nasik etc ?
May be Shri Narendra Modi , while talking to American CEOs in San Jose today , convince them to come forward with an investment of $ 5 billion at our holy places , to transform Make in India into Incredible India !
Dismiss Inefficient Government Servant [ DIGS ]……………… [ 31 Dec 2017 ]
Extract :
Is it unfortunate that the Government officers responsible for such accidents, are never held accountable for their lapses ( or worse , for their “ bribe-inspired “ collusion ) which lead to such accidents
I urge some TV Channel / Print Newspaper to develop / launch , a mobile app ( - to be called , DIGS ? ) , with following features :
[ A ] NATURE of accident ( select from following drop-list )
[ B ] LOCATION ( enter )
[ C ] DATE ( enter )
[ D ] OFFICER RESPONSIBLE ( in your opinion )
[ E ] PUNISHMENT ( being recommended by user of DIGS )
[ F ] CONDITIONS ( governing use of DIGS app )
Greatest Show on Earth : Kumbh Mela………………………….. [ 25 Aug 2018 ]
Extract :
I urge Shri Yogi Adityanathji [ CM – UP ] and Shri V K Anand [ Kumbh Mela Adhikari ] , to consider the following precautionary SAFETY measures to prevent a stampede :
METHOD A ……..[ HORIZONTAL
METHOD B ……..[ ROPE WAYS WITH HANGING CHAIRS ]
METHOD C ……..[ ROLLER
Main Concept :
Simply eliminate walking ( stampede happens when impatient people try to overtake
pilgrims walking in front of them or have ability to run helter-skelter under some
perceived threat )
At each “ Arrival Point “ ( Railway Station / Bus Stands / Airport / Parking Plots for private vehicles ) , each arriving visitor to be welcomed with a RFID sensor embedded wrist-band
Before issuing the wrist band, pilgrim’s AADHAR NO will be entered into the sensor
It will be mandatory for the visitors to wear this Wrist Band as long as they are inside the “ PILGRIMAGE PERIMETER “
This will help the central PILGRIM TRAFFIC CONTROL ROOM , to track :
# each and every visitor
# missing / lost persons
# mischief-mongers / miscreants
# accident victims / sick persons
For a fool proof solution for CROWD CONTROL, I urge Kumbh Mela Administation to consider :
# Increasing the no of CCTV cameras from 1,000 to 10,000
# Couple these with a FACE RECOGNITION software, such that those who attempt
to “ WALK “ ( instead of riding ), inside the Pilgrimage Perimeter ( area covered by
Methods A / B / C ,described earlier ) will find their face, name, and their Aadhar ID
number displayed on a large LED screen , as described in :
“ If you jaywalk in China, facial recognition means , You’ll walk away with a fine “
Dear Shri G Kishan Reddyji ( Minister for Tourism )
I urge you to consider my above-mentioned suggestions for avoidance of stampedes
There is no rocket-science involved in my suggestions – just simple / old fashioned engineering
With regards,
Hemen Parekh / hcp@RecruitGuru.com / 02 Jan 2022
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Related Readings :
Saudi Arabia shows mastery of crowd control during haj …………………….. [ TOI / 23 Aug 2018 ]
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