At least five spectators lost their lives and hundreds were hospitalized after the Indian Air Force (IAF) air show, held in Chennai to celebrate its 92nd anniversary, turned tragic. The event, hosted at Marina Beach, attracted a crowd of over 12 lakh people, leading to chaos as organizers and authorities were overwhelmed by the massive turnout, according to reports from the Indian Express.
Despite the event being intended as a showcase of military aviation, it ended in disarray due to overcrowding and inadequate crowd management. More than 150 people received first aid for dehydration and exhaustion, with multiple fatalities occurring in different locations. According to a senior police officer, the deaths were not due to a stampede but caused by individual incidents related to the stress of the situation.
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The IAF air show, the first in Chennai in over two decades, began drawing crowds as early as 7 am, with the event scheduled between 11:30 am and 1 pm. However, when the show concluded, the sudden mass departure led to severe traffic congestion around Marina Beach, causing delays for more than an hour.
Concerns have been raised about the IAF’s decision to push for a Limca Book of Records entry by aiming for a crowd of 15 lakh, which far exceeded manageable limits, and about the Chennai City Police’s inadequate crowd and traffic management.
Reports indicated a lack of basic amenities like drinking water for the spectators, further exacerbated by the soaring temperatures of 36°C. Many attendees, including children, were left dehydrated, fainting, or forced to walk several kilometers to find transportation.
Eyewitnesses described the panic that ensued as people struggled to move in the packed crowd. Among the deceased were Karthikeyan, 34, who died of a heart attack, Srinivasan, 48, who collapsed near a parking area, John Babu, 56, who passed away while retrieving his scooter, and Dinesh, who was found unconscious near the shore.
Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K Annamalai expressed shock and placed blame on the state’s ruling DMK government, accusing it of neglecting public safety and failing to provide essential services like transportation and medical assistance. He also criticized Chief Minister MK Stalin, calling for accountability and stating that the loss of lives should not be dismissed as an accident.
AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami echoed the sentiments, condemning the Tamil Nadu government for mismanagement and expressing his condolences to the families of the victims.
