The deaths of over hundred devotees during a religious congregation at Phulrai village in Hathras District of Uttar Pradesh have raised a big question mark on the practicality of the arrangements made during the Satsang. Though different versions are coming out on social media and the concerned government authorities including the local police are also sharing some information, what could be seen as the real reason behind the tragedy is absence of a workable plan to handle hundreds of devotees gathered at a place.
Such cases have become common across the country as earlier also many people have lost their lives in similar stampedes albeit the number this time is much more.
In a same context, twelve devotees were killed and 15 other injured in an early-morning stampede at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra in Reasi district on January 1, 2022. Reports revealed that the incident took place around 2.45 AM, when a large number of devotees was queuing up for Darshan inside the cave shrine on the Trikuta hills on the New Year.
Going by such tragic incidents it has become imperative for the governments both central and the local ones to frame standard operating procedures for all such events and situations, and ensure that stakeholders follow and implement these in letter and spirit. There are many such tragedies which one could recall while going down the memory lane like one of the most tragic ones on December 6, 1980, in which 45 people, most of them children, had been killed in a stampede of panic stricken people when a power failure turned the historic monument of Qutub Minar in Delhi into a tower of fear.
Looking into all such tragic incidents one can say that lessons have not been learnt despite colossal losses. Enough is enough the government should act strict in all such matters and should not allow any lethargy or overlooking of things during any kind of gatherings whether government or private, as it is not at all advisable to take risk in such cases because human lives are precious and therefore all possible steps should be taken to save the same.
It is no longer acceptable to overlook or underestimate the importance of meticulous planning and implementation for crowd management. By doing so, we can honor the memory of those who have perished in these tragedies and ensure a safer future for all.
