Sir — Stampedes are not uncommon in our country, particularly at religious places. The stampede in Varanasi, which claimed more than 20 lives, corroborates the sluggish attitude of the authorities in framing appropriate guidelines with standard operating mechanisms for smooth management of such events. Bizarrely, political authorities and successive Governments are waiting forcalamities to happen, as if to announce financial assistance to the victims and to express grief on such tragedies. Prima facie, there are apparent lapses on the part of the authorities as well as the organisers of the event. An unbiased probe will expose the truth.