In a shocking incident in Chennai, five people lost their lives, and nearly 100 others were hospitalized following an Indian Air Force (IAF) air show at Marina Beach. A massive crowd of 1.5 million gathered under scorching heat and poor arrangements, leading to the tragedy. The event, held in October’s oppressive heat, became a perfect storm of weather challenges and administrative oversights.
Health Minister M Subramanian defended the state’s planning for the event, stating, “It was estimated that 15 lakh people would attend, and arrangements were made accordingly.” He added that 40 ambulances were on standby and paramedical staff were prepared with 100 beds and 65 doctors at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Additionally, 7,500 police officers were deployed for crowd control.
Despite these measures, the victims—identified as V Karthikeyan, D John, Srinivasan, Mani, and Dinesh, all Chennai residents—succumbed to the harsh conditions.
Chennai’s muggy weather worsened the situation. The Meenambakkam weather station recorded a high of 34.3°C and 80% relative humidity, resulting in a wet-bulb temperature of 31.26°C. Experts state that prolonged exposure to such conditions can cause heat strokes and dehydration, which were major factors in the day’s casualties.
Many attendees criticized the event’s lack of basic necessities like drinking water. Chandramohan, a software engineer who attended the air show, reported seeing people faint due to dehydration. “There was no water supply despite the hot weather, and the exit after the event was a nightmare. Roads were choked,” he explained.
The event was scheduled for 11 am to 1 pm, but attendees had begun arriving as early as 7 am, leading to overcrowding and extended exposure to the sun. Karthikeyan, one of the victims, arrived with his family at 10:30 am. After the show, he went to retrieve his two-wheeler but never returned. His wife recounted, “I kept calling him for two hours, but a stranger finally picked up and told me he had fainted.”
Public transportation was overwhelmed by the massive crowds. Thousands of people packed train and Metro stations, with the Chennai Metro witnessing an unprecedented ridership of 400,000 on Sunday. Spectators like K Renuka, who attended the event, criticized the lack of extra train services to handle the surge in passengers. “Railways should have anticipated the high demand and run extra services,” she noted.
Traffic management also faced severe criticism. K Venkat, another attendee, reported that it took three hours to cover a one-kilometer stretch near the beach. The gridlock added to the chaos as people struggled to leave the venue after the event.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed regret over the deaths, attributing them to “extreme heat and various medical reasons.” He acknowledged that the crowd exceeded expectations and promised better arrangements for future events. “Next time, more attention will be given to ensure such tragedies are avoided,” he said.
The tragedy sparked a political storm, with opposition leaders from AIADMK and BJP blaming the state government. AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami said, “The state government must take responsibility for this tragedy.” BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy echoed similar sentiments, accusing the government of failing in crowd and traffic management. “It is most unfortunate that the lack of proper planning resulted in the loss of five lives,” he added.
The aftermath of the event has left the public demanding accountability, as questions are raised over the administration’s preparedness for handling large crowds in such extreme conditions.
