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Police receive several requests for security and crowd control at public events, citing the presence of political figures, celebrities, or religious functions, said the Hyderabad DCP. However, providing arrangement for every event is not always feasible due to limited resources, he added
A woman was killed and her son was critically injured during the screening of ‘Pushpa 2’ at a theatre in Hyderabad. Actor Allu Arjun was arrested Friday night but released on bail the next morning. (Photo: PTI)
Actor Allu Arjun’s arrest over a stampede during the promotion of his film ‘Pushpa 2’ in Hyderabad that killed a woman and critically injured her child has put focus on the police’s failures in managing the crowd.
After a stampede during a religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras killed more than 100, the incident in Hyderabad sends out an emphatic message that foolproof protocols should have been set up for such events, both by the state and the film industry.
How Did Hyderabad Stampede Occur?
On December 4, a stampede broke out at a theatre in Hyderabad where ‘Pushpa 2’ was being screened. The crowd went berserk after Allu Arjun made an “unscheduled” visit to the auditorium, the police said.
A 39-year-old woman was killed and her 8-year-son, Sri Tej, was critically injured. According to a private hospital where the boy is undergoing treatment, he is on ventilatory support with minimal requirements in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of KIMS Cuddles Hospital in Hyderabad.
The hospital confirmed that the boy is currently in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and on ventilator support. “He is hemodynamically stable and tolerating tube feedings. However, he has intermittent fever, remains in an altered sensorium, and exhibits dystonic movements,” the statement read, as mentioned in The Hindu report.
The woman’s husband filed an FIR, which led to Allu Arjun’s arrest on Friday night. However, the actor was released on interim bail the following morning. The deceased’s husband, who initially wanted to pursue a legal case against Allu Arjun, has now stated that he is willing to withdraw the case.
Both Allu Arjun and Pushpa 2 director Sukumar have expressed deep regret over the incident. The actor met with the victim’s family and extended condolences, and donated Rs 25 lakh to the family.
What Did The Hyderabad Police Say About Security Arrangement?
The police authorities criticised the theatre management for failing to make additional security provisions for the crowd. “The theatre management did not make any additional provisions regarding security… though the theatre management had information about their arrival,” the police stated.
Akshansh Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad Central Zone, had stated the organisers had merely submitted an application without meeting any police officials. He, however, maintained that adequate security measures were in place at the theatre.
He also said the police receive numerous requests for security and crowd control at public events, citing the presence of political figures, celebrities, or religious functions. However, the police clarified that providing arrangement for every event is not always feasible due to limited resources.
“In specific cases where a heavy crowd is expected, or some popular personality is visiting, the organiser personally visits the police station / ACP / DCP office and briefs about the program depending upon which we provide the bandobust (security arrangement). In this case the organiser did not meet any officer and simply submitted the letter in the inward section,” DCP Yadav said.
He further said Allu Arjun, upon his arrival at the theatre, began waving at the crowd. His private security started pushing people away to make way for his vehicle. The frenzy led to the chaos. The actor’s team was instructed to take him away from the venue, but they failed to comply.
The DCP also issued a statement denying that the police misbehaved with the actor. “When police reached his residence, he requested some time to change his clothes. He went inside his bedroom, police personnel waited outside and took him into custody when he came out. There was no use of force or any misbehaviour with him by any police personnel. He was given enough time to interact with his family and wife and he himself came out and entered the police vehicle,” Yadav said.
Stampedes In India
Data in ‘Human stampedes during religious festivals: A comparative review of mass gathering emergencies in India, 2013’ showed that 79% of stampedes in India occur during religious gatherings and pilgrimages.
The risk of stampedes is heightened by the location of many major temples on hills, riverbanks, or other uneven terrains. Additionally, the tradition of large religious gatherings in rural areas often sees thousands of devotees gathering in cramped spaces, which lack basic facilities such as proper entry and exit points for emergencies.
In July, 116 people died in a ‘Satsang’ in Hathras. Police authorities say the tragedy occurred due to overcrowding at the religious congregation organised by ‘Godman’ ‘Bhole Baba’ in Pulrai village. The victims were crushed to death as they rushed to leave. Video of the aftermath showed the structure appeared to have collapsed, and authorities said heat, overcrowding and suffocation may have been factors.
In 2008, nearly 168 pilgrims were killed and 100 injured during a stampede at Chamunda Mata Temple in Jodhpur on September 30, 2008. Severe overcrowding apparently caused the crush as more than 12,000 people gathered at the temple to celebrate Navratri.
In another stampede at a religious gathering at Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh on August 3, 2008, 162 people died. Rumors of a landslide apparently started the panic, according to a senior government official.
In 2005, a stampede at Maharashtra’s Mandhardevi temple in Wai led to the death of more than 340 devotees.
The most notable stampede in the history of India was in 1954 in Allahabad during the Kumbh Mela festival in which 800 people died. The first post-Independence Kumbh was plagued by a lack of crowd control mechanisms, poor planning, and excessive presence of VIPs. The tragedy occurred after a crowd broke through the barriers, separating them from a procession of sadhus.
How Stampedes Occur And How To Prevent Them?
Stampedes are often triggered or made worse by panic. In a seminal paper, psychologist Alexander Mintz theorised that “in panic-producing situations cooperative behavior is needed for success and is rewarding to individuals as long as everybody cooperates. However, once the cooperative pattern of behavior is disturbed, cooperation ceases to be rewarding to the individuals” (“Non-adaptive group behavior”, 1952).
According to experts, lack of light, crowd flow not being managed, collapse of barrier, blocked exits and evacuation route, poor design of hardware and fire hazards play a crucial role in deciding how the spaces for mass gatherings should be decided.
To prevent such tragic events from happening, planner must not allow more than a specific number of people to enter a contained space. Researchers also stress on live surveillance of the crowd to ensure that the organisers are can monitor “the pressure buildup, increase in crowd density, bottlenecks, and to identify the source of crowd disturbance”.
