Dehradun, Aug. 18 -- The deaths of several pilgrims at the Ashok Dham Temple in Lakhisarai, Bihar, has once again brought focus on the need for a more scientific and effective methodology for crowd control in India. A huge population that has increasing discretionary ability to spend on religious and entertainment events poses a serious challenge for government authorities.
Presently, the fundamentals of crowd control in India are governed by the scientific frameworks of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and updated regulations from the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D). Given that nearly 80% of crowd disasters in India occur at religious gatherings, managing high-density, emotionally charged groups requires...