India, June 9 -- There's something deeply unsettling about lives being lost in moments meant for celebration or routine. Whether it was the tragic stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL victory celebrations or the chaos at the New Delhi Railway Station earlier this year - both were everyday public gatherings that turned unexpectedly dangerous. These incidents left behind fear, injuries and unanswered questions. So what can you do to protect yourself if a crowd suddenly spirals out of control? We speak to event organisers, security experts and professionals who've worked on the ground managing large-scale gatherings to understand how to stay safe when panic strikes.

"Awareness is your best defence," says Major Gurpreet Singh (R...