How to flee

In the wake of Thursdays stampede deaths at a government school in Delhis Khajuri Khas,the inadequate infrastructure and negligence of authorities notwithstanding longstanding court warnings are in the spotlight again. Theres no gainsaying that Indias state school infrastructure is often abysmal. Lack of toilets,potable water and electricity,or open electrical wirings that are death traps,or classrooms in tents these are the substance of a national shame. Now,what exactly triggered Thursdays tragedy is subject to varying claims. If the stampede indeed resulted from the panic-stricken girls attempt to get clear of boys molesting them,some draw the inference that a broader stairway might have saved lives.

In this context,a larger case can be made for scientific disaster management and instituting drills to sensitise people especially,those in command,like teachers about the utility of discipline in escaping perceived or real danger. Since instinctive human behaviour could be counted on to be anything but rational in such circumstances,it becomes imperative to train people. In a country where temple crushes make seasonal headlines or where relief distribution can trigger stampedes,human disaster management must be taken seriously.

Of course,large crowds,typically in religious pilgrimages,call for professional disaster management with barriers,traffic control and elevated observers thrown in; nor is it very realistic to expect millions of people to file out on their own without panicking. But the inculcation of this little discipline can spell the difference between successful evacuation and unnecessary deaths in schools,theatres,places of worship,etc. None of this is to exonerate the criminal lack of basic infrastructure such as fire escapes and broader stairways in our government schools or old-style theatres indeed,anywhere. Such drills will not excuse that negligence,but should complement other necessary precautions in case disaster strikes.