Crowd. Chaos. Calculations

Strap: A stampede of poor planning, political posturing, and preventable loss shakes public trust

Blurb:

Stampedes, overcrowding, and public safety lapses become moments of national grief, but rarely of policy introspection. In this standstill, lives continue to be lost — not just to negligence, but to a collective unwillingness to address the population question head-on.

Byline: Ashwini K

What began as a sweet dream for thousands in Bangalore turned into a horrific nightmare within hours. As jubilant fans swarmed the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s historic first IPL title in 18 years, no one imagined the night would end in tragedy. Caught in the chaos of an overwhelming crowd, at least 11 people lost their lives and over 50 were injured in a stampede that has shaken the state.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed grief and concern at a press conference, “This tragedy should not have happened. The government expresses deep sorrow. Most of the deceased are youth.” Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar also extended condolences, calling it a painful day for the state.

This marks the third major stampede in India this year. Earlier, deadly incidents at the Mahakumbh and New Delhi Railway Station had claimed dozens of lives. In the Mahakumbh tragedy, an estimated 30 people were killed when thousands surged forward for the Amrit snan. At the New Delhi station, a miscommunication over platform announcements reportedly triggered panic, leading to the deaths of 18 passengers. In both cases, questions were raised over poor crowd control and inadequate infrastructure. Now, Karnataka joins the grim list.

Whether it’s Congress or BJP at the helm, crowd management appears to be a persistent blind spot. With large gatherings becoming flashpoints for disaster, the question looms large – why does the state continue to fail in controlling crowds at mass events? In moments meant for joy and faith, India is instead being reminded — painfully — of its administrative lapses.

Cricket, faith & political capital

In India, cricket often transcends sport — for many, it’s akin to a religion. So, it was no surprise that thousands gathered at the Chinnaswamy Stadium to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s long-awaited IPL victory. What was unexpected, however, was the decision to go ahead with the celebrations despite the police reportedly advising against holding the event at the stadium.

The government’s motivation to greenlight such large-scale events is often tied to public sentiment and political optics. When lakhs of people are emotionally invested, a successful event can boost goodwill and, in turn, political favour. In that context, it’s understandable why the Karnataka government chose not to withhold permission.

A similar pattern was seen during the recent Mahakumbh in Uttar Pradesh. Promoted as a once-in-144-years spiritual gathering, the event was strongly linked to cultural and religious pride. Despite concerns over crowd management and infrastructure, it went ahead — with the ruling government positioning it as a symbolic assertion of faith and identity.

In both instances, political imperatives appear to have outweighed administrative caution — raising larger questions about how public safety is balanced with mass sentiment.

A deeper dilemma

Another critical argument emerges in the aftermath of repeated crowd tragedies – India’s infrastructure is increasingly buckling under the weight of its 1.4 billion-strong population. Whether it’s a festival, a railway station, or a stadium celebration, the sheer volume of people makes crowd control a logistical nightmare. This issue can only be tackled through two long-term strategies — one, by investing heavily in infrastructure that can support mass gatherings; and two, by opening a national conversation on population stabilisation.

Yet, both these paths are politically sensitive. Despite the urgency, neither the Congress nor the BJP seems willing to advocate forcefully for population control measures. The reasons are deeply entrenched. In India, family size remains a personal — and often prideful — choice. Any government pushing strict population policies risks alienating key voter blocs, especially in rural and socially conservative regions.

As a result, while political parties are often divided by ideology, in this particular challenge, they are strikingly aligned in silence. Both are wary of overstepping a line that could cost them electorally. Stampedes, overcrowding, and public safety lapses become moments of national grief, but rarely of policy introspection. In this standstill, lives continue to be lost — not just to negligence, but to a collective unwillingness to address the population question head-on.