Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian stated that the state government provided full administrative cooperation to successfully conduct the Indian Air Force Air Adventure Program in Chennai. His comments followed criticism from the opposition, which accused the DMK government of “neglecting” basic arrangements for the public, labeling it a “complete failure of administration.”
Former Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami claimed that five people had lost their lives due to heatstroke during the air show. In a post on X, Ma Subramanian responded, saying that all necessary arrangements were made in consultation with the Air Force officers.
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“Full administrative cooperation of the Government of Tamil Nadu was extended to successfully conduct the Indian Air Force Air Adventure Program at Chennai. In order to properly plan and conduct the event, a coordination meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary with Indian Air Force officers and Tamil Nadu government department officials once and then several times at the departmental level. In these consultative meetings, arrangements were made keeping in mind all the demands of the Air Force officers,” he explained.
He also mentioned that the state government had set up two medical teams, including doctors and nurses, for emergency responses during the event. “The Army had also sent teams for medical assistance. Forty ambulances were readied for medical assistance and emergency response at the site. Required paramedical staff was available. A total of 100 beds and 65 doctors at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital were prepared for any emergency,” he added.
Subramanian further noted that around 7,500 police personnel were deployed for crowd control and security during the event. “On behalf of Chennai Corporation and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, adequate temporary toilets and drinking water arrangements were made. To control the crowd, 7,500 police were on security. The Tamil Nadu government made all arrangements more than what they asked for,” he stated.
AIADMK leader Kovai Sathyan had earlier demanded Ma Subramanian’s resignation over what he described as “complete mismanagement” during the air show. “In front of my eyes, children were falling. There was no public address system that could guide the people. There were no booths giving water and there was no medical assistance. There was no traffic management. It is a complete mismanagement. Precious lives have been lost. Ma Subramanian, if he has any element of empathy and self-consciousness, should resign as the health minister,” Sathyan declared.
BJP state president K. Annamalai also expressed shock over the incident and held the DMK government responsible for the lack of basic arrangements. “I was shocked to hear that 5 people died due to crowding and more than 200 people were injured and admitted to the hospital for treatment during the IAF ‘AIR Show’ program held at Chennai Marina Beach. The only reason for this is that the DMK government has not taken care of the safety of the public without providing basic facilities and adequate transport arrangements for the public who came to witness the IAF Air Show,” Annamalai said in a post on X.
The Indian Air Force organized the air show on Sunday at Chennai’s Marina Beach in anticipation of the 92nd Air Force Day on October 8.
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