Letter.

Letter Published in The National UAE 31Jan 25 Maha Kumbh and the lessons in crowdJan management The National UAE, Middle East and world breaking news, stories and analysis January 31, 2025 In reference to The National report Maha Kumbh Mela: Nearly 40 feared dead in crowd crush at Indian festival (January 29): It was saddening to read about the casualties of the crowd crush at the Maha Kumbh Mela, a grand festival held in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The incident that occurred on Wednesday was unfortunate and heartbreaking. While millions of devotees from various parts of India and abroad were able to participate in the festival in previous days, the crowd crush marred an otherwise peaceful gathering. Despite the massive crowd, the local government, had till then managed the festival well. But this incident serves as a reminder of the challenges of ensuring safety at such large-scale events. The Indian prime minister expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished for the swift recovery of those injured. The Maha Kumbh Mela, a once-in-a-lifetime event for many, marks the convergence of sacred rivers and is considered one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. Despite extensive safety measures, such tragic events can still occur when crowd numbers become overwhelming. I pray for the victims and wish the injured a speedy recovery and I hope for peaceful days ahead for the remainder of the festival. K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India