Stampede Situation at IITB Techfest 2024 Students Alleged Management Seeks Apology | IIT Bombay Techfest 2024 | Stampede broke out in Techfest of IIT Bombay: Students said – ‘We were treated like animals’, the institute should apologize; Know the three major reasons for the stampede

First watch this video…

This video is from IIT Bombay Techfest 2024 which ran from 17 to 19 December. Many videos of crowd and chaos during the fest have gone viral. Many students were injured in the stampede that broke out at the event. The students who returned from the program have said that they were treated like animals. Students say that such poor management was not expected from a prestigious institute like IIT Bombay.

‘Stayed in queue for 4 hours, masterclass of mis-management’

Last week, IIT Bombay organized the 28th annual Techfest. In this, events based on modern technology take place. Many students who participated in the fest raised questions on the poor management of the events on social media.

A student wrote on Reddit, ‘Everyone was waiting for the drone show. We stood in line for 4 hours. There was pushing and shoving from all sides in the crowd. My friend got hurt. The management was very bad. The event organizers did not even tell us what was going on and how long we would have to wait. Somehow we stood in line waiting for the show to start.

Another student said, ‘Only the masterclass of mis-management was going on there for three days. There was chaos in almost all the events of the fest. People had to wait for 3 hours to go to the auditorium. People were asked to go back citing lack of space. It is disappointing that such a prestigious institute could not even do basic management.

There was less space in the Techfest, a large number of people were gathered outside the auditorium, who were not allowed entry into the event.

‘We were treated like animals, VIP students were given entry’

A student said, ‘The crowd was going out of control, after waiting for a long time we reached the barrier of SBI Bank and broke it. The men standing in the women’s queue and many VIP students also entered inside. Many people came later, but they too were not allowed inside.

The student further said, ‘Due to lack of organization, we were misbehaved. We were treated like animals. As if we have no business in this event. There was no apology or anyone to listen to what was happening. People were suffocating in the crowd, but nothing was done by the organizers.

Many students have accused IIT-Bombay of neglecting the event on social media sites.

Students asked IIT Bombay to apologize

Another student shared a video on social media site X. It looks like a stampede-like situation in an uncontrollable crowd. People are running everywhere trying to get inside the auditorium. The student wrote in the caption, ‘Disorder, mismanagement and lack of accountability in IIT Bombay.

Students said that if the institute knew how many people were coming to the event then why was the event held at a small place. Students wrote that you are at the top of the food chain, this does not give you the right to treat us like animals. This cannot be forgiven. Many students have demanded an apology from IIT Bombay.

There was huge chaos during the event.

Let us tell you that on December 20, a stampede broke out during the story of storyteller Pradeep Mishra in Meerut, UP. Around one lakh people had attended the Katha which started at 1 pm. Many people, including women, were injured when a stampede broke out at the time of entry due to the huge crowd. In July this year, 122 people were killed in a stampede during the program of Shri Narayan Sakar Hari alias Bhole Baba in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh.

3 main reasons behind the crowd going out of control

Anna Sieben, associate professor at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, has been researching crowd dynamics for years. According to him, there are three main reasons for the crowd going out of control.

1. Incorrect estimation of the number of people attending the program

Not estimating the number of people attending an event correctly can lead to a stampede. This could be seen as poor event management. If too many people have gathered in a small space, there will be no space to walk between people, which increases the possibility of an accident.

2. Intention of the crowd to move in one direction at the same time

If the crowd participating in any program starts going to one place at the same time, then the possibility of the crowd going out of control and causing an accident increases. This was seen in the recent incidents like what happened at IIT Bombay or before that. Everyone wanted to move in one direction at one time. This also happens in situations like fire emergency. At public gathering events, places of worship or Katha, Satsang, devotees do not arrive simultaneously, but at the time of departure, if arrangements are not made for people to leave intermittently, then the entire crowd comes out together.

3. Any information or information is received late in the crowd

Often there is a lot of noise in crowded places. In such a situation, no information is received properly from each other. The people at the back of the crowd are not able to know what is happening next. In such a situation, if a stampede or accident occurs at the venue, people do not even know about it. This increases the possibility of a major accident.

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