Madhavankutty Pillai
Most stampedes in India, it becomes clear, are connected to religious festivals because they draw enormous numbers
In the aftermath of the Bengaluru stampede, the state has suspended top cops and launched a probe. But with organisers and ministers unscathed, the search for real accountability has just begun
The stampede occurred as thousands of devotees gathered for the popular fire-walking ritual at the Lairai Devi Temple
Stampedes, a recurring phenomenon in India, are paradoxical in the instinct for self-preservation itself fuelling the danger
The gross negligence and unpreparedness of the local administration resulted in a tragedy that will haunt Varanasi for years to come
State governments merely dole out compensation packages, apologies on Twitter and press conferences and empty promises of corrective measures