Stampedes : stamp of India?

• 32 people killed in stampede in Patna during Dussehra event
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Patna, Oct 3 (PTI) Thirty-two people, most of them women and children, were killed and several injured in a stampede that broke out this evening at the Gandhi Maidan here shortly after the Dussehra celebrations there had ended.

The tragedy occurred when people were returning after watching the "Ravan Vadh" ceremony at the Bihar capital's main Dussehra event at Gandhi Maidan where a huge crowd had gathered to witness the event, police said."

Stampedes do occur with an unfailing regularity.  Places and dates of occurrence may differ. Patterns are same. Why do they occur?  The administration is headed by a district level officer. Elected representatives would be busy with numerous works. It is the duty of the officials to foresee things and have plans in place.  Apart from the regular precautions the following steps may be taken to ensure fool proof security. 

•  A simple collection of volunteers to regulate the crowd in required numbers is the first step towards crowd control
• The festival venues must be well lit with enough open spaces  
• Functioning Public Address Systems must be in place
• Encourage people to watch the events via Televisions with arrangements for local broadcasts
• Avoid bringing small kids and elderly to crowded places
• Arrange for distribution of prasads (blessed food)  widely
• Encourage the organizers to have major events during the day 
• Do not make disburse lakhs of audience/spectators at one stroke. Ensure disbursal is spread and with minimum time gaps  
• In case of small shrines make arrangements to keep the idols/ portraits in open places and allow not any one into the narrow shrines
• All holy places in India would be near water bodies. May be lake beds or rivers.
• Ensure none loses his/her life in running waters
• Learn from experts like the organizers of Kumbhmela (UP)  Take the expert advice from them before your area programme.
• In case of eventuality try to reduce the casualties with systems in readiness
• Ensure 100% safety of people and 0% casualty.