What happened at Chennai Air show that claimed 5 lives? Click for details
What happened at Chennai Air show that claimed 5 lives? Click for details
The tragic incidents at the Chennai air show resulted from a combination of social media excitement and insufficient crowd control measures.
A record number of attendees gathered at Marina Beach in Chennai for the air show on Sunday, driven by a significant buzz on social media. Initially, officials anticipated around 1.1 million participants, but the actual turnout exceeded expectations, with estimates ranging from 1.2 to 1.3 million people arriving by trains, metros, buses, and personal vehicles.
Unfortunately, inadequate planning turned the event into a calamity, leading to five deaths and over 100 individuals needing hospitalization, as reported by sources from the Tamil Nadu government and the Indian Air Force (IAF).
At least five people are thought to have died from heatstroke in Chennai. The massive crowd, coupled with high temperatures, resulted in cases of heatstroke, dehydration, and suffocation for many, while traffic jams affected the surrounding areas.
The air show took place at Chennai’s iconic Marina Beach to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of the Indian Air Force.
On Monday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin pledged that enhancements would be implemented for future large-scale events.
This air show represented a significant return to Chennai after more than two decades.
A senior police official reported that over 40 ambulances, numerous medical teams, and doctors were mobilized for the event, along with traffic reroutes. An IAF senior officer noted that barricades and various crowd control strategies, including traffic diversions, effectively prevented a stampede. However, the simultaneous outflow of attendees exposed flaws in the planning.
The city’s Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS), which offers urban rail services, did not increase its capacity despite the influx of people.
The consequences of these collective oversights were devastating. Five individuals lost their lives while trying to return home from the beach, and more than 100 others were hospitalized due to heat exhaustion, dehydration, and other medical issues exacerbated by the crowding.
Edappadi K Palaniswami, the leader of the opposition and AIADMK, criticized the Stalin administration, blaming the tragedy on governmental shortcomings during his statements in Salem.
“Lakhs of people gathered at the Marina (beach) to witness the air show on Stalin’s invitation. However, basic amenities were not provided, and due to the heavy rush, five people died. This shows the poor administration of the government.”
The weather department reported that the highest temperature on Sunday reached 35 degrees Celsius (95 F).
