Mumbai Police's Successful Crowd Control Amidst Massive Victory Parade
The recent tragic stampede in Bengaluru, which claimed 11 lives during the IPL celebrations, has shed light on the commendable crowd management executed by Mumbai police during the victory parade for India's T20 World Cup win last year.
On July 4, nearly three lakh people thronged iconic locations like Wankhede Stadium and Marine Drive, dressed predominantly in blue, to celebrate the Indian cricket team's success. Despite the overwhelming turnout, authorities maintained smooth crowd flow through meticulous planning and real-time measures.
Preparation and Execution
The police had less than 36 hours to prepare for the event, which saw approximately 300,000 spectators. Key strategies included:
- Pre-event coordination: Police advised the Mumbai Cricket Association to consider issuing tickets for free public events to better manage crowd size and flow.
- Early gate opening: Initially planned for 4 PM, gates were opened at 2:30 PM to avoid crowd congestion.
- Seated capacity management: While the stadium accommodated 35,000 people, the remaining attendees were organized along surrounding roads and Marine Drive.
- Continuous announcements: Loudspeaker communications informed attendees about capacity limits and directed crowd movement.
Security Measures and Crowd Behavior
The event emphasized non-aggressive crowd control methods, explicitly avoiding lathi charges. Barricades were deployed strategically, with heavy police presence ensuring safety across all points.
High-profile officials, including the Police Commissioner and Special Police Commissioner, personally supervised the event. The Indian team’s procession involved cars up to the NCPA, shifting to a secured bus moving through the crowd with dual-layer security.
Minimal incidents of suffocation or crowd pressure near Churchgate station were swiftly managed by directing arriving individuals to disperse, preventing escalation.
Attention to Detail
Authorities paid close attention to seemingly minor but critical factors that could impact crowd safety. For instance, attendees were advised against bending down to collect dropped footwear, a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of chain-reaction stampedes.
Civic workers collected three trucks full of footwear left behind post-event, demonstrating the scale and discipline among crowd members.
Contextual Concerns and Learnings
Events such as the Hathras stampede, which resulted in over 120 fatalities just days prior, influenced the cautious approach taken. Additionally, Mumbai's recent experience hosting a major Indian Air Force air show at Marine Drive, attended by thousands, contributed valuable insights into managing large crowds.
Contrasting Tragedy in Bengaluru
In contrast, the Bengaluru stampede occurred during celebrations of Royal Challengers Bangalore's IPL victory. The incident involved uncontrolled crowd surges outside the stadium and led to eleven deaths and numerous injuries. This unfortunate event underscored the critical importance of proactive and detailed crowd management in large-scale public celebrations.
