Dehradun, Oct. 19 -- The devastating stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, which claimed at least 19 lives, is a tragic reminder of India's persistent vulnerabilities in managing massive gatherings. Triggered by a sudden downpour, poor crowd segregation, and confusing public announcements, this disaster underscores critical gaps that India continually fails to address. As the Haridwar Kumbh Mela approaches, these unlearned lessons present a severe risk for an event of an even grander scale.
The core gaps in India's crowd management include flawed event metrics and overcapacity. Organisers and local authorities routinely rely on static calculations rather than dynamic, real-time tracking. When unforeseen environmental trig...