Crowd Control and Disaster Management

Prof. Ravi SinhaCivil Engineering DepartmentIndian Institute of Technology

Bombay

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Crowd Disasters (since 2005)Wai, Maharashtra (~150) – Jan. 2005Tehran, Iran (~35) – Feb. 2005Gandhawa, Pakistan (~32) – Mar. 2005Baghdad, Iraq (~1000) – Aug. 2005Beni Suef, Egypt (~32) – Sep. 2005Chennai, TN (~42) – Dec. 2005Mecca, Saudi Arabia (~76) – Jan. 2006Jamarat Bridge, Saudi Arabia (~363) – Jan. 2006

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Missions of Crowd ManagementTemple visit should be a religious experience and not survival trainingSpontaneous visits with reasonable waiting time should be feasibleVisit should be completed with reasonable comfort Temple ambiance should be pleasant

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BackgroundMajor religious temples are daily visited by a very large number of devoteesThe number of visitors is rapidly increasingDevotees typically include a mix of very young, youths, adults and senior citizensOn special occasions, the number of visitors can be several times higher

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Crowd Control IssuesMix of visitors – age, physical fitness, genderReligious sensitivity – religious functions follow stringently laid-out proceduresPeople have limited capacity to wait without losing patienceWaiting devotees expect reasonable comfort

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Crowd Control IssuesLarge congregations have high probability of crowd control problems

Medical requirements of sick devotees Special requirements of very young, old and infirm devotees VIP visits on auspicious daysStampedes and crushesAttractive target for terrorist attacks

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Crowd Control StrategiesEvaluate temple capacity, inclusive of all waiting areas considering reasonable waiting time – compare with requirementShorten duration of religious procedures for faster turn-around Carry out crowd congestion analysis – identify bottlenecks in crowd movement

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Crowd Control StrategiesQuick exits with proper and well-lit signageAdequate space in waiting areas to reduce claustrophobiaForced ventilation in waiting areas to prevent heating and air-quality deteriorationMultiple queues for different types of visits (inside Sanctum sanctorum, outside Sanctum sanctorum, other deities only, premises only, etc.)

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Crowd Control StrategiesMeditation areas in temple segregated from crowd movement areasCrowd safety training to employees – implement active and passive surveillance Improve access to temple premises from outside – alter location of flower and offerings shops

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Terrorism – Crowd ControlLimit crowd density and crowd size in any room/enclosureProvide quick exits in all enclosuresUse fire retardant paints, decorations etc. to avoid secondary disasterRegulate/limit un-queued crowd movement during periods of large congregation

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Crowd Control – Future IssuesVery few temple premises are large enough for the rapidly increasing visitors

Redesign crowd movement circuitsRedesign waiting halls/enclosuresIncrease size of temple premises through acquisition of adjoining areasImprove use of IT tools

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Disaster ManagementAnticipate disasters in temple premises:

Stampede and crushFirePower/ventilation system failure, etc.Terrorist attackEarthquakes

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Disaster ManagementDevelop consequence scenario for each disaster

Consider time of dayConsider season/weather, if relevant

Assess requirements of special groups (children, old visitors, medically unfit visitors, etc.)

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Disaster ManagementPlan for each possible disaster scenario

Reduce impact (adverse consequence) if possiblePrepare for adverse consequencesTrain employees and partners (particularly police) on disaster management plans – include simulation during training

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Remember …Disaster in a high congregation area CAN and WILL occurConsequences can be mitigated through prior planning

Develop crowd control strategiesDevelop disaster management plansImplement training and simulation

Thank You !!