The death of 63 people, women and children, in a stampede at an ashram in Uttar Pradesh shows that we have learnt no lessons in crowd management. The managers of the ashram in Mangarh should have known that distribution of freebies would attract crowds. They should have taken precautionary measures.
P. Senthil Saravana Durai,
Tuticorin
People gathering in large numbers where food and gifts are distributed free reflects the appalling state of poverty in our country. Such incidents reinforce the need for the government to work towards eradicating poverty.
Viraj Deshpande,
New Delhi
Stampede deaths are tragic because they are preventable. Lack of awareness about safety protocols coupled with undisciplined crowds make public gatherings in India a potential death trap. It is the responsibility of organisers to put in place suitable measures and deploy volunteers to ensure the smooth movement of people.
V.N. Mukundarajan,
Thiruvananthapuram
