November 3, 2025 07:22 AM IST First published on: Nov 3, 2025 at 07:22 AM ISTAt least nine lives — mostly women and children — were lost at the Venkateswara Temple in Kasibugga, Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday, when a morning of devotion turned into one of tragic loss as railings gave way, exits jammed, and the crowd surged uncontrollably. In a country where multitudes are a constant feature of public life, people were once again failed by a system — event organisers, administrators, law enforcers — that takes a short-cut approach to managing crowds.The Kasibugga tragedy is part of a grim national pattern. In January, a stampede at the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh claimed six lives. In February, a similar incident at the New Delhi railway station during rush hour left 18 commuters, mostly Kumbh Mela pilgrims, dead; a month earlier, the lives of at least 30 devotees were snuffed out at the Mela site. During the Indian Premier League, in June, a stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru killed 11 fans and injured over 50 others at what was to be a celebration of RCB’s maiden IPL victory. Most recently, in September, nearly 40 people died in a stampede at a rally by TVK president, actor Vijay, in Tamil Nadu’s Karur. Each incident was followed by familiar official lamentations, similar inquiries, and the same promises of reform — and yet very little seems to change on the ground. Whether in places of worship, transport hubs, or sporting and music arenas, the script is identical: Crowds surging beyond expectations, too little planning, and a deep-seated disregard for basic safety regulations. The apathy is institutional and administrative — crowd management is treated as an afterthought rather than a science. In Kasibugga, for instance, the crowd on Saturday swelled to around 25,000, well over its usual weekend capacity of 10,000-15,000. The area where the incident occurred was under construction, the entry and exit routes were the same and the makeshift arrangements were woefully inadequate. The state administration has claimed that it was not informed of the special celebrations for Ekadashi.AdvertisementIndia’s public spaces are a melange of aspiration, desperation, fervour, and devotion. Lax enforcement of safety codes by states and organisers’ indifference to capacity limits create a culture of inevitability, where every stampede is described as “unfortunate” rather than unacceptable. The victims of Kasibugga, mostly people from disadvantaged communities — women who came in faith, children who held their mothers’ hands until the crush separated them — warrant more than condolences and platitudes. They deserve accountability. The best tribute to them would be to root out the all-too familiar lapses. India’s temples, stations, and stadiums are the arteries of the country’s public life. Crowd management at these venues cannot be left to instinct and rope lines; it demands trained personnel, real-time monitoring to stagger crowd movement, spacious and clearly-demarcated entry and exit points, and accountability in case of violations. Most of these safety measures have, in fact, long been underlined in the National Disaster Management Authority’s guidelines. Until states, temple trusts, and event organisers acknowledge that managing crowds is an urgent imperative, the country will continue to mourn in the aftermath of preventable tragedies.