India, Sept. 28 -- Sadly, this is not an isolated event. Stampedes in India have become tragically routine-caused by overcrowding, mismanagement, and a lack of emergency planning-proving again that human life is cheap by those who matter

The tragic stampede at actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu has left at least 39 people dead, including 10 children, and more than 80 injured, according to official reports. The disaster, rooted in crowd mismanagement, poor planning, the absence of basic facilities and complete lack of apathy on the part of high and mighty for fellow humans, is yet another reminder of how preventable tragedies continue to claim lives at large public gatherings in India.

Orga...