Uttar Pradesh Sets New SOPs for Events to Avoid Future Tragedies

A day after a tragic stampede in Hathras claimed 121 lives, Uttar Pradesh minister Asim Arun announced that the state government has initiated work on SOPs for large gatherings to prevent future incidents. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to draft these procedures, ensuring event permissions are granted only if basic amenities are met.

Focus on Safety Measures

Arun, the minister of state for social welfare, is part of a three-minister committee formed by Adityanath to oversee relief measures post-stampede. He explained that volunteers managing the crowd made errors, highlighting the need for experienced police and magistrates in such situations. "We should not leave it to sevadars or volunteers. They do a great job, of course, but the police and magistrates are more experienced," he said.

The chief minister has decided that detailed SOPs will be mandatory for any gathering, regardless of size. Arun emphasised the importance of civic amenities, such as adequate toilets and water tankers for large crowds. "It's not just this, it's about civic amenities as well, like how many toilets are required for 80,000 people or how many water tankers should be there and how many escape points should be there," Arun stated.

Organisers' Negligence

The minister pointed out several lapses by the organisers of Tuesday's satsang. There was insufficient parking space, leading to buses being parked on the national highway. Additionally, there were only two entry and exit routes. "There should be multiple entry and exit routes and I believe they were only two routes as far as I have seen. So, the organisers could certainly have done better," he remarked.

Arun also noted that weather conditions played a role in the tragedy. "If it was a smaller gathering or if it was pleasant weather, maybe it would have worked. But yesterday was a sultry day and later it rained," he said. He stressed the need for improved processes for both government and private events.

Judicial Inquiry Ordered

Following the stampede, Hathras police filed an FIR naming the event organisers as accused. The FIR and a preliminary report by the sub-divisional magistrate indicated that the crowd exceeded 2.50 lakh people, far above the permitted limit of 80,000. Earlier on Wednesday, Adityanath visited Hathras to meet with injured individuals and families of the deceased.

Adityanath has ordered an inquiry by a judicial commission led by a retired high court judge to investigate the incident thoroughly. The state government aims to ensure such tragedies do not recur by implementing stringent SOPs and holding organisers accountable for safety measures at large gatherings.

The new SOPs will outline clear standards for event permissions, ensuring organisers or government agencies provide necessary amenities. This move aims to prevent future incidents and safeguard public safety during large events in Uttar Pradesh.