Beyond the Stampede: Where Has Our Civic Sense Gone?

The stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata, which claimed 19 lives and left around 25 people injured on Maha Saptami, was a heartbreaking tragedy. Heavy rain triggered a surge of visitors, and the situation soon turned chaotic.

A resident of Kumortuli, who had visited the pandal with his mother, recalled how people gathered at the entrance to escape the rain and began pushing to get inside.

The grieving relatives of the victims raised painful questions about responsibility, crowd management, and the arrangements at the pandal. The police have initiated an investigation to determine whether there were lapses on the part of the organisers or the authorities.

Indeed, it was a tragedy—a devastating loss for families who lost their loved ones: a father, a mother, a son, or a daughter. Investigations must establish accountability, and those responsible for any negligence must face the consequences. However, beyond the investigations, one uncomfortable question remains: What have we become as a society? Have we learned to discipline ourselves? Are we not, at times, responsible for the very dangers we create?

There is an invisible race within us—to reach first, grab a seat, secure our share, bypass others, and leave everyone else behind. We often forget that our desire to get ahead can come at the cost of another person’s safety. We cannot control the weather or prevent every natural disruption, but we can exercise caution, follow instructions, and behave responsibly when circumstances become difficult.

Recently, I visited Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, and was deeply impressed by the self-discipline of its people. One might argue that Aizawl cannot be compared with a metropolitan city like Kolkata, particularly during a festival as grand as Durga Puja. The differences in population, infrastructure, and circumstances are undeniable. Yet, the lessons I learned there are relevant everywhere.

There are crowds in Aizawl’s markets, on its streets, and at places of interest, but what struck me was the apparent absence of unnecessary rush and aggression. Vehicles generally give way rather than compete to overtake, unnecessary honking is uncommon, and people seem more willing to respect one another’s space. Even on steep, winding roads, patience and consideration make a difference.

These may seem like small things, but they reflect a larger attitude towards life. Giving others the opportunity to move ahead, waiting for our turn, respecting rules, and remaining calm in difficult situations can prevent accidents and save lives.

Such values cannot be developed through textbooks alone. They must be practised at home and reinforced through everyday behaviour. Parents must teach children that life is not a race in which everyone must defeat someone else. Coming first in class is not more important than becoming a considerate human being. Success means little if we fail to respect the lives, dignity, and rights of others.

Civic sense begins with self-discipline, and self-discipline begins at home. We cannot expect the government, the police, or the administration to prevent every tragedy if we refuse to take responsibility for our own actions.

The loss of 19 lives should not become just another headline that we forget after a few days. Let it remind us that discipline is not merely about following rules when someone is watching; it is about doing the right thing even when nobody is there to enforce it.

If we learn to give priority to another person’s safety, exercise patience, and understand that we do not have to reach first every time, our streets, public spaces, and festivals will become safer for everyone.

Perhaps the greatest tribute we can pay to those who lost their lives is to change the way we behave.

A safer society begins when we stop asking, “How can I get ahead?” and start asking, “How can we all move forward safely?”

At the end, I would like to pray to the Almighty – “May the departed souls rest in eternal peace, may the grieving families find the strength to endure this irreparable loss, and may this tragedy awaken our collective conscience to build a more compassionate, disciplined, and safer society.”