Many of these incidents result from poor planning and mismanagement of crowds by authorities or programme organisers.

Many of these incidents result from poor planning and mismanagement of crowds by authorities or programme organisers.

Many of these incidents result from poor planning and mismanagement of crowds by authorities or programme organisers.

Kumbh Mela crowd rush in Uttar Pradesh, Lairi Devi Temple stampede in Goa, Delhi railway station tragedy in New Delhi, TVK Rally stampede in Tamil Nadu... small- and large-scale crowd rushes have been a regular occurrence in India this year. The latest on the list is the Srikakulam Temple stampede today, in which several people have been injured and killed. According to reports, the incident occurred when devotees rushed in for Ekadashi prayers at the Venkateswara Swami Temple in Andhra Pradesh. So far, nine people have reportedly died in the incident. Many of these incidents result from poor planning and mismanagement of crowds by authorities or programme organisers. However, can an ordinary man employ any methods to save themselves if caught amid a dangerous crowd? 

According to the Yellow Book of the Centre for Disease Control, crowding and stampedes can cause deaths and crash injuries, and therefore, it's essential to ensure personal safety. Alongside being aware of their surroundings, they should also be aware of exit points, medical assistance, and first-aid stations. As far as possible, root your leg on a dry, level ground and walk at the same speed as the rest of the crowd. Avoid taking children to mass gatherings, but if unavoidable, ensure that they have enough space to breathe. 

How to survive a stampede?
If, for unavoidable reasons, you end up amid a rowdy, dangerous crowd, you can try employing a few simple tips to protect yourself. Here's how to go about it: 

Tips from the Centre for Disease Control to survive a stampede. Photo: CDC

'Srikakulam' has more than 2K search volume on Google Trends in the past 3 hours. 

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