Latest news with #Mahakumbh
Mint
a day ago
- Sport
- Mint
FOMO caution: A fear that's raising our risk of stampedes
It was on the night of 3 June that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), a cricket team with a vast fan following, finally succeeded in lifting their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy after a wait of 18 long years. That this win had sent waves of excitement around the city of Bengaluru was obvious. Many fans appeared delirious with joy. But few could have expected that their celebrations would end in tragedy the very next day. A victory procession that seems to have been organized in a hurry led crowds of fans thronging to a stadium in Bengaluru, where the gathering unexpectedly swelled beyond the ability of the security personnel to handle, resulting in a stampede that took several lives and left many injured. Also Read: The good, the bad and the ugly of the IPL phenomenon What was meant to be a moment of triumph turned into a gloomy day that no one wants to remember. Like after every such incident, a committee was formed to probe its causes. But a deeper question emerges: Is this stampede another example of how FOMO—or the 'fear of missing out'—dictates our actions in this age of keeping up with social media feeds? FOMO refers to the worry people experience when they believe they are losing out on a significant or rewarding experience. While it is mostly linked with social media, it also influences real-world behaviour, such as attending mass events. The star-studded RCB's long-awaited victory had turned into more than just a sports moment. Fans across generations who had stood by the team through humiliating losses, poor finishes and online trolling saw the IPL win as redemption. The team's brand, popularized by superstar players like Virat Kohli and others, had cultivated a near-religious following. The victory parade was, in essence, a spiritual culmination. The announcement of an open-top bus parade sent social media into overdrive. Thousands poured into key points along the route hours in advance. Traffic was choked and the police found themselves overwhelmed. People climbed trees, bus stops and traffic signals to catch a glimpse of the team. Amid all the fervour, as people converged on the stadium, things went out of control. Also Read: Stampede during Pushpa 2 screening reinforces need for celebrity accountability Stampedes are not very uncommon. Just five months ago, one occurred at the Mahakumbh gathering in Prayagraj, followed by another at New Delhi railway station. Sports gatherings have been vulnerable globally. Cairo, Lusaka, Basra and other cities have witnessed stadium stampedes that took lives. It's part of a growing pattern of crowd disasters powered by FOMO culture. This culture has powerful drivers behind it. Consider the following. Social media urgency: The need to post that perfect photo or video 'from the scene' is a major motivation. Celebrity worship: In India, cricket stars command a fanbase that rivals that of religious figures. Missing the parade may have been akin to sacrilege for many. Scarcity mindset: The belief that 'we will never get this chance again' can push people to take irrational risks to participate in a crowd event. Also Read: Maha Kumbh 2025: After the chaos, calm returns to Prayagraj The darker side of FOMO is its ability to override logic. People in Bengaluru skipped work, school and in many cases, even safety precautions just to be a part of the celebration. Several attendees later confessed that they stayed on at the location even after it had begun to seem dangerous because they didn't want to be among those 'who missed out.' This compulsion to witness something historic, to belong and to broadcast seems like the result of emotional conditioning. It is as if our worth is increasingly measured by how 'in the moment' we are, even when the moment is potentially harmful. While cultural reflection is necessary, so is administrative accountability. The parade's planning—or lack thereof—was a disaster waiting to happen. From here on, several measures need to be adopted. Attendance should be through pre-registration. Crowd-pulling events should be live-streamed widely to reduce physical crowding. Points of fan interaction should be spread out, so as to keep numbers manageable. And the police should hold crowd control drills. But no system can succeed without public cooperation. For that, a cultural shift is needed—from 'I must be there' to 'Do I need to be there?' Also Read: India's sports economy inches closer to $2 billion as endorsements, emerging sports fuel growth At its heart, cricket is a game of unity, passion and joy. But when fans are pushed—by peer pressure, marketing hype and need for online validation—to display their loyalty by showing up, we turn a celebration into a crisis. It's worth asking: Would RCB's win be any less fulfilling if one had watched it from one's living room? Does one's support mean less if one doesn't post a reel from the parade? The answer, surely, is no. The team's IPL win will remain etched in sports history. But the chaotic scenes that followed must be remembered too—not to tarnish the victory, but to illuminate a truth we often ignore. That not all good things must be witnessed live in person to be meaningful. Let this stampede be more than just another urban cautionary tale. Let it spark conversations in homes, schools and online spaces about how we celebrate and why we chase moments. Maybe, just maybe, it's time to normalize saying, 'I chose to stay away—and I'm glad I did.' And in a world addicted to more, choosing less might just be an act of self-care that's both bold and wise. Prateek Khanna of ICFAI Business School contributed to this piece. The authors are, respectively, assistant professor, DIT University; and professor, IIFT New Delhi.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Demand for international status for Prayagraj airport gains momentum
The long-standing demand to upgrade Prayagraj Airport to international status is once again gathering momentum. In a meeting of the Airport Advisory Committee held at a hotel in Civil Lines on Wednesday, the issue was discussed in detail. Member of Parliament Praveen Singh Patel attended the meeting as the chief guest. He stated that Prayagraj Airport had set new records during the Mahakumbh, and the time had now come to grant it international airport status. During the meeting, committee members and officials highlighted that thousands of people from Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi and nearby districts in Madhya Pradesh travel to Gulf countries for employment every month. Currently, they must travel to Lucknow or Delhi to board international flights. Direct international flights from Prayagraj, they argued, would provide significant relief to travelers and boost the region's economic activity. It was also announced that cargo services from Prayagraj Airport are set to begin soon. Airport director Mukesh Upadhyay informed attendees that the required land for cargo operations has already been identified, and final approval from the ministry of civil aviation is pending. Committee members shared concerns over reduced air connectivity. Prior to the Mahakumbh, Prayagraj was connected to 13 cities by air; that number has now dropped to seven. Members including Arunendra Singh, Anirudh Pratap Singh, Murarilal Agarwal and Ravi Mohan Mishra urged the restoration of lost routes and reiterated the demand for international status. Other proposals raised during the meeting included launching a 6 am flight to Delhi with a return service in the evening, introducing new flights to Surat, Pune, Dehradun and Indore, and establishing a graphic work and information centre at the airport to promote tourism.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
MakeMyTrip to raise $3 billion to cut Chinese stake
BENGALURU: MakeMyTrip has launched a two-part capital raise comprising a public equity offering and a private convertible note issuance, with the combined proceeds to be used for repurchasing a portion of its Class B shares from Group, a travel agency headquartered in Shanghai, China. At MakeMyTrip's last close of $100.88 apiece, the two transactions total to over $3 billion. The planned transactions could reduce stake in MakeMyTrip from around 45% to about 20%, based on the company's last closing price of $100.88 and assuming full deployment of proceeds for the repurchase. The Nasdaq-listed online travel firm is offering 14 million ordinary shares in a registered public offering. Underwriters will also have a 13-day option to purchase up to an additional 2.1 million shares. Pricing for the equity offering will be determined at the time of pricing. Separately, MakeMyTrip plans to convert senior notes, set at a principal amount of $1.25 billion, with an option for initial purchasers to buy up to an additional $187.5 million within 13 days of issuance. Terms such as the initial conversion rate and offering price are yet to be finalised. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Philippine healthcare gaps push patients into debt, drive healthcare workers to seek jobs abroad CNA Read More Undo The company intends to deploy all proceeds from both offerings to repurchase part of its Class B shares from The repurchase price will be linked to the equity offering's net price, adjusted for underwriting discounts and commissions across both transactions. The buyback will be conducted under a share repurchase agreement signed on June 16, 2025. The capital raise follows what the company described as a record financial year. MakeMyTrip reported $9.8 billion in gross booking value for FY25, up nearly 26% year-on-year, with adjusted operating profit rising 35% to $167 million. Growth was driven by both new and repeat customers, with management noting increasing penetration in smaller Indian cities, where tier II and III markets accounted for a growing share of user additions. International travel remains a key expansion area for the platform. In FY25, international air-ticketing revenue rose more than 33%, while international hotel bookings grew over 65%. International business accounted for 25% of MakeMyTrip's overall revenue, up from 22% a year earlier. The company said it also saw strong growth in non-air verticals. Its accommodation supply expanded to over 89,000 options across 2,000 Indian cities, with a 30% year-on-year increase in hotel inventory from smaller towns. Pilgrimage travel emerged as a significant driver, with volumes in religious tourism hubs rising over 95% year-on-year, aided by demand around large-scale events such as the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. The company ended the fiscal year with $750 million in cash and equivalents, and deployed $21.5 million towards share buybacks last quarter. MakeMyTrip first raised $180 million from then known as Ctrip, in 2016. In 2019, increased its stake in MakeMyTrip to about 49% from 10% through a share-swap transaction, acquiring a 42% stake previously held by South Africa's Naspers, which had been MakeMyTrip's largest shareholder. As part of the deal, issued shares worth $1.3 billion to Naspers. At the time, the transaction was the largest investment by a Chinese internet company in an Indian firm, surpassing Alibaba Group's nearly $1.2 billion investment in Paytm and its e-commerce unit Paytm Mall. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
83 lakh saplings to be planted, 20% fruit trees
: In an effort to make Sangam city greener, approximately 83 lakh saplings are set to be planted by various government departments this year. Around 20 percent of these will be fruit-bearing trees, including mango, jamun, and jackfruit. According to reports, the forest department will plant about 22.45 lakh saplings, while other government departments have been assigned a combined target of 50.69 lakh saplings. District forest officer Arvind Yadav said that a significant number of trees were cut during the Mahakumbh festival to make way for development works. To make up for this loss, saplings including fruit-bearing varieties will be planted across the district. The forest department has identified Shankargarh, Meja, and Koraon tehsils as the key areas for increasing green cover. These areas were chosen because they have large patches of vacant land. Efforts will focus on planting trees in dried-up ponds, barren land, and fields where trees have died. Neem, Peepal, and Gulmohar trees will be planted in most of these areas. From July onwards, several departments will begin planting trees according to their assigned targets. These include: Environment Department: 2.27 lakh Rural Development Department: 29.98 lakh Revenue Department: 2.51 lakh Panchayati Raj Department: 3.40 lakh Urban Development Department: 1.37 lakh Agriculture Department: 5.99 lakh Horticulture Department: 3.69 lakh Basic Education Department: 30,000 Secondary Education Department: 18,000 Higher Education Department: 24,000 Health Department: 12,000 Cooperative Department: 13,000 Industry Department: 8,000 Railways: 15,000 Transport Department: 1,800 Defence: 4,000 This large-scale plantation drive is part of the city's ongoing commitment to enhance its green spaces and improve the environment for its residents.
Hans India
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Ayodhya turning into liquor hub
New Delhi: In a scathing attack on the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government, the Congress party on Thursday alleged that the religious sanctity of Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram, has been compromised by the unchecked proliferation of liquor shops. The party also accused the state administration of concealing the actual death toll during the Kumbh Mela stampede. Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai said that Ayodhya, considered a holy city by millions of Hindus, has been turned into a liquor hub under the current government, despite its claims of being the custodian of Lord Ram's legacy. Rai disclosed that an 'umpteen number of liquor shops' have been opened throughout Ayodhya, and presented video evidence from a prominent YouTube news channel to back his claim. The report showed alcohol being sold in nearly every corner of the city. This, Rai pointed out, was in clear violation of the Municipal Corporation's ban on the sale and supply of liquor within a 13-kilometre radius of the city's central sacred zone. 'On one hand, the BJP claims to be the devotee of Lord Ram, and on the other, it is promoting liquor in his very birthplace. This is not only hypocrisy, but an outright insult to the faith of crores of Hindus,' Rai said. The Congress leader also leveled serious charges against the Yogi Adityanath-led government over the alleged underreporting of deaths that occurred during the Kumbh Mela stampede. Quoting a leading national media outlet, Rai stated that while 82 people had actually died, the government officially acknowledged only 37 fatalities. He further alleged that 19 individuals who perished during the Mahakumbh stampede were completely erased from the records. 'There is no mention of these victims, no compensation was offered to their families, and they have effectively been declared non-existent in the eyes of the government,' Rai said.
