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CHENNAI: Tragedy struck at the Indian Air Force (IAF) air show in Chennai, India, where five people lost their lives and over 200 were hospitalized due to extreme heat and dehydration on Sunday.
The event, held at Marina Beach to commemorate the IAF’s 92nd anniversary, drew thousands of spectators who endured overcrowding, traffic congestion, and a lack of basic amenities in scorching temperatures.
The air show, which featured 72 aircraft, including Rafale fighter jets and helicopters, began at 11 am and lasted until 1 pm. Many spectators had gathered hours earlier, braving the intense heat that reached 35 degrees Celsius.
The elderly were particularly affected, with several fainting before the show even started. Emergency responders rushed to transport over 200 individuals to nearby government hospitals due to dehydration and heat exhaustion symptoms.
The incident sparked a political controversy, with All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader Edappadi K Palaniswami criticizing the DMK government for poor planning and crowd control.
In addition, Palaniswami placed the responsibility squarely on Chief Minister MK Stalin’s administration, citing inadequate security and basic facilities, such as water and medical assistance.
However, DMK leaders refuted these allegations, with Saravanan Annadurai stating that the event was well-organized and the deaths were not related to crowd mismanagement.
Moreover, Tamil Nadu’s Health Minister, Ma Subramanian, also defended the government’s handling of the airshow, claiming that proper arrangements, including medical teams and ambulances, were in place.
Eyewitness accounts described the chaos that ensued after the event, with roads choked and buses stuck in traffic. As one software engineer recounted, “Worst was the exit after the event. Roads were choked…Buses got stuck too”.
The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adequate planning and crowd management in large public events.
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