Chaos, screams and collapse: 8 stampedes, 127 dead — The anatomy of India’s crowd tragedies in 2025

India witnessed a grim year in 2025 with eight stampedes claiming 127 lives across various public gatherings. From religious sites to railway stations and political rallies, overcrowding and poor planning turned joyous occasions into tragedies. These preventable incidents highlight critical gaps in crowd safety management nationwide.