An incident like the stampede at Satsang in Hathras should not happen again – DGP Prashant Kumar

Lucknow, 25 July (HS). Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar has issued SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for crowd management and prevention of stampede. Under the SOP, now separate integrated systems will be created at district, range and zone levels in UP. The integrated system will be updated regularly at the level of DM, CMO, Civil Defense, Fire Brigade and local police. Efforts will be made to ensure that an incident like the stampede at the Satsang in Hathras does not happen again.

The DGP said that the officials giving permission for the programs and the local police should check beforehand that there is no danger at the event venue. The movement of people there is safe. An emergency plan should be prepared based on the assessment of possible dangers (fire, electricity, road accidents and respiratory obstruction). Coordination should be done with all the departments. Complete information about the program and the estimated number of people coming there should be collected.

Prashant Kumar said that a demand letter should be prepared for the police, PAC, central force, officers and resources required for security and traffic. Strong barricading should be done. Monitoring should be done through CCTV at the event venues and operational control rooms should be made. A gazetted officer (local magistrate) should be appointed in-charge for the management of the event. Proper briefing of the force to be deployed on duty should be done.

He said that adequate fire fighting arrangements should be made along with public address system. Anti-social elements spreading rumours should be monitored. Light, drinking water and ambulance should be arranged at the event venue. Traffic and parking arrangements should be made under the crowd control plan. The category of guests should be decided and their traffic routes should be kept separate accordingly. There should be separate traffic routes for the public. Assessing the need, the help of local field unit, fire brigade, BDS team, flood unit and SDRF should also be taken.