top of page

By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

President takes prompt cognizance

Mumbai: President Droupadi Murmu has taken immediate cognizance of a plea pointing at grave insults to the Indian Tricolour (Tiranga) in pubs and hotels, violations to the Flag Code of India, 2002, in the name of celebrating Republic Day and Independence Day. Pune businessman-cum-activist Prafful Sarda had shot off a complaint to the President on Jan. 26 but was surprised to receive a response from her office in less than 72 hours. Under Secretary Lakshmi Maharabooshanam in the President’s...

President takes prompt cognizance

Mumbai: President Droupadi Murmu has taken immediate cognizance of a plea pointing at grave insults to the Indian Tricolour (Tiranga) in pubs and hotels, violations to the Flag Code of India, 2002, in the name of celebrating Republic Day and Independence Day. Pune businessman-cum-activist Prafful Sarda had shot off a complaint to the President on Jan. 26 but was surprised to receive a response from her office in less than 72 hours. Under Secretary Lakshmi Maharabooshanam in the President’s Secretariat at Rashtrapati Bhavan, replied to Sarda on forwarding his complaint to the Ministry of Home Affairs for necessary action. It further stated that action taken in the matter must be conveyed directly to Sarda. “It’s a pleasant surprise indeed that the President has taken serious note of the issue of insults to the National Flag at night-clubs, pubs, lounges, sports bars and other places all over the country. The blatant mishandling of the National Flag also violates the specially laid-down provisions of the Flag Code of India,” said Sarda. He pointed out that the Tricolor is a sacred symbol and not a ‘commercial prop’ for entertainment purposes to be used by artists without disregard for the rules. “There are multiple videos, reels or photos available on social media… It's painful to view how the National Flag is being grossly misused, disrespected and even displayed at late nights or early morning hours, flouting the rules,” Sarda said. The more worrisome aspect is that such transgressions are occurring openly, repeatedly and apparently without any apprehensions for the potential consequences. This indicates serious lapses in the enforcement and supervision, but such unchecked abuse could portend dangerous signals that national symbols can be ‘trivialized and traded for profits’. He urged the President to direct the issue of stringent written guidelines with circular to all such private or commercial outlets on mandatory compliance with the Flag Code of India, conduct special awareness drives, surprise checks on such venues and regular inspections to curb the misuse of the Tricolour. Flag Code of India, 2002 Perturbed over the “perceptible lack of awareness” not only among the masses but also governmental agencies with regard to the laws, practices and conventions for displaying the National Flag as per the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, the centre had brought out the detailed 25-page Flag Code of India, 2002. The Flag Code of India has minute guidelines on the display of the Tricolour, the happy occasions when it flies high, or the sad times when it is at half-mast, the privileged dignitaries who are entitled to display it on their vehicles, etc. Certain violations attract hefty fines and/or imprisonment till three years.

How Forensics Are Decoding Deadly Stampedes

The 1989 Hillsborough disaster in the UK marked the beginning of stampede forensics using video analysis and eyewitness accounts, an approach that has since evolved to include AI and 3D simulations.

Forensic investigation of stampedes is the scientific study of crowd dynamics, structural design, and human behaviour to uncover the causes behind deadly crowd surges. It combines analysis of video footage, physical evidence, and digital modelling to reconstruct events and identify what went wrong. Investigations delve into the movements of people, the failure of infrastructure, and gaps in planning and response systems. By decoding these patterns, forensic experts help ensure accountability and improve future safety.


The roots of a stampede investigation trace back to the mid-20th century, when researchers began studying crowd control more seriously following major tragedies. A turning point came after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster in the UK, which claimed 96 lives at a football stadium, marking one of the first times forensic tools, like video analysis, architectural studies, and crowd behaviour reconstruction, was used comprehensively to determine the causes of such an event.


With modern technology, stampede investigation has evolved into a precise forensic discipline. Analysts today rely on tools like CCTV analytics, drone surveillance, crowd simulation software, and AI-powered behaviour recognition. These technologies provide real-time and post-incident data on how panic spreads and what triggers it.


The forensic teams were immediately called in for the recent stampede incident at a major railway station in India. Surveillance footage, mobile recordings, and eyewitness accounts were collected. Broken sandals, crushed bags, and twisted railings were documented as physical evidence. Using 3D modelling, investigators recreated the event to visualise the choke point—a narrow bridge overwhelmed by a sudden crowd surge. The simulation revealed a critical lack of crowd flow management and poor public announcements, which contributed to the panic.


Similar approaches were applied during the 2017 Elphinstone Bridge stampede in Mumbai, where investigators digitally reconstructed the chaos caused by sudden rainfall and overcrowding.


Their findings emphasised the importance of clear signage, unidirectional movement paths, and responsive emergency teams. Globally, such techniques were also used in the 2010 Love Parade in Germany and the 1989 Hillsborough disaster in the UK. In both cases, forensic crowd analysis identified poor design and delayed response as leading causes.


In India, temple festivals have also seen tragic stampedes. In the 2013 Ratangarh Temple incident, forensic investigators traced the deadly panic to a false rumour about a collapsing bridge. The crowd's behaviour, analysed through video evidence and on-ground debris patterns, showed a catastrophic failure in crowd control and emergency preparedness. Each of these investigations has contributed to a growing database of crowd behaviours under stress, which now feeds predictive AI tools.


Technology continues to transform forensic stampede investigations. AI systems can now monitor crowd density and movement in real-time, sounding alerts when thresholds are breached. Thermal cameras track body heat signatures to monitor crowd flow, while drones provide wide-area visuals of congested zones. Advanced software analyses human posture and movement patterns, helping identify signs of distress before a surge begins.


Investigations now influence legal action, with courts using forensic evidence to hold authorities accountable. Following the recent railway incident, the High Court directed the stopping of ticket overselling, improving public information systems, and filing a detailed safety audit. Similarly, after the 2013 Madhya Pradesh stampede, the Supreme Court mandated stricter crowd control.


Forensic investigation of stampedes, once limited to basic incident reviews, has now transformed into a robust and evolving science. From its early beginnings in stadiums and temples to its adoption of artificial intelligence and 3D simulations, the discipline has become a cornerstone of modern public safety planning. The use of these advanced tools allows investigators not just to explain what went wrong but to forecast where failures may occur and stop tragedies before they happen.


(Dr. Kumar is a retired IPS officer and forensic advisor to the Assam Government. Bhowmik is a student of National Forensic University, Guwahati.)

Comments

bottom of page