Bihar Issues New Crowd Control Guidelines: CCTV, Drones and Live Surveillance

Bihar Issues New Crowd Control Guidelines: The Bihar State Disaster Management Authority has released updated rules for handling large crowds at big events. The plan leans more on setup work ahead of time. It also calls for CCTV use, drones, and watch teams that can check conditions as they change.

These rules apply to many kinds of gatherings. This includes major religious fairs, cultural shows, sports meets, political rallies, and other events where crowd numbers can rise quickly. If that happens, officials say there is a danger of stampede or unrest.

Bihar Issues New Crowd Control Guidelines: What Is Different Now?

In the latest method, officials are meant to check crowd risk before an event starts. The focus is not only on acting after trouble begins. The new rules are:

• Work out how many people are likely to attend, and how much the site can hold
• Keep entry and exit lanes separate, and make them wide enough
• Set out emergency escape paths in advance
• Plan traffic moves so vehicles do not block access
• Use CCTV and drone views to track crowd flow
• Run live checks from control rooms
• Use public announcement systems for quick messages
• Place police, NDRF staff, and trained volunteers at key points

The authority lists several danger factors. These include too many people, tight entry and exit gates, rumours, equipment or infrastructure breakdowns, and sudden pressure that builds within the crowd.

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CCTV and Drones to Keep a Watch on Crowd Movement

Bihar Police is also growing its drone program. The government has agreed with the buy of 50 larger drones. The cost is about ₹24.50 crore. Officials plan to use them for law and order, traffic work, stopping crime, handling protests, managing fairs, and covering big public events.

Bihar has used similar tools before during large crowds. In Gaya, the district administration set up temporary CCTV units, drone footage, smart TVs, and computer setups for safety during the Pitru Paksha Mela 2026.

Control rooms are part of the plan. The rules ask for live watch so staff can see how dense the crowd is. This should help teams respond quicker when action is needed.

Public address systems are also expected to be used. Authorities can give clear directions, guide people to safer paths, and shut down rumours early. The aim is to prevent fear from spreading.

Bihar hosts many large religious, cultural, and political events. Thousands can gather in tight spaces. BSDMA notes stampedes as one of the human-made and disaster risks in the state.

Bihar has been adding to its surveillance setup too. Earlier, Bihar Police said drones would be rolled out across districts for law and order and crowd control. At the same time, CCTV coverage has been expanded at police sites and other government locations.