Sure it had to be. But it can not be in India due to news that the comet tail had cyanide AT ALL. In India it would have to do more with religious and cultural implications of a comet than what it had (just like it would have had an impact in Europe a century earlier).
>> You've brought "backward" into this: im uncomfortable with that.
Well I should I have been clearer. What I meant was not related to your point. I meant that a lot of people would still think that eclipse has to do with gods than being a physical phenomenon. I think that ignorance. And this is more prevalent in people in India who are educationally backward.
>> I've noticed that stigma is less apparent
I found your paragraph interesting. And I do not agree. There could be a whole new thread on that.
>> And note we are talking about panic: which is a bad thing in these circumstances. If it is, as you say, confined to those coming from abroad then mass panic seems overkill. Concern, planning and education is the better approach (but everywhere has fallen foul of that)...
I agree with the rest of your comment after this point. And I think this is more studied.