Whenever a stampede happens, the first blame always goes to the government, the police, or the event organisers. But is that fair? Are they the only ones at fault? No. We, the people, are also equally responsible. These are our lives, and it is also our responsibility to protect them. If we know something is risky, why do we still become part of a dangerous crowd?

Stampedes happen when too many people gather in one place, and panic or confusion causes people to push each other. In such situations, even a small mistake can cost lives. We’ve seen this again and again – whether it is a temple, a stadium, a railway station, or a public celebration. Still, people ignore the warnings and join the crowd without thinking about their safety.

In 2025 alone, over 100 people have lost their lives in different stampede incidents across the country. One of the biggest and most heartbreaking examples is the stampede at Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on January 29. While the state government officially claimed that 37 people died, a BBC News Hindi report revealed that at least 82 people were killed in four different stampede incidents on that day alone.

Another big horrific example is the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on February 15. At least 18 people, including 5 children, lost their lives, and 15 were injured. Why? Because too many people rushed to board trains to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh. Some passengers slipped while walking down the foot overbridge. Panic spread, and suddenly a deadly stampede happened. The crowd had already become huge two hours before the incident, and many people on social media warned about it, but still, no action was taken — not by the officials and not by the people.

Yes, the authorities should have managed the crowd better. But people must also think, if the area is overcrowded, is it really worth the risk? Religious belief is important, but is it more valuable than your life?

The same thing happened at Tirupati on January 8, where 6 people died and 40 got injured while waiting for darshan tokens. Even though 91 counters were opened, the crowd did not control itself. Can we blame only the temple board? Or should people also take responsibility for not staying calm and not pushing?

On June 4, the celebrations after Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL win turned into tragedy when 11 people died and 33 were injured in a stampede at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Fans rushed in large numbers after hearing about free passes and victory parades. There was confusion and no crowd control, but again, why did people rush in without thinking? If everyone had acted responsibly, maybe the situation would not have gone out of control.

Now the same was seen during the Rath Yatra in Puri. A stampede outside the Gundicha Temple left three dead and over 50 injured. The government later transferred the SP and Collector. But this wasn’t just a failure of management; people pushed, rushed, and ignored all safety guidelines. It is tragic that such a holy event turned into a painful memory for many families.

All these examples show one thing: crowd behaviour plays a big role in stampedes. When people push, rush, ignore warnings, or gather in huge numbers without thinking, tragedy is not far away.

Authorities must take responsibility. They should plan better, increase security, control entry, and give clear information. But people must also do their part. If you’re sick or weak, avoid big gatherings. If the place is already too crowded, step back. Don’t push others. Don’t run in panic. Value your life and the lives of others.

Stampedes are not natural disasters; they are man-made. That means we can stop them, too. But only if both authorities and the public act responsibly. 

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