Chennai, Oct 7: The Indian Air Force (IAF) air show at Marina Beach in Chennai on Sunday ended in tragedy as five spectators died from heatstroke, with around 200 others hospitalized for dehydration. Part of the IAF’s 92nd anniversary celebrations, the event drew a staggering crowd of nearly 1.5 million people, overwhelming local medical services and public transport.
Despite the impressive aerial displays, extreme temperatures led to numerous medical emergencies. Officials confirmed that the five deceased included 34-year-old V. Karthikeyan from Thiruvottiyur, 56-year-old D. John from Korukkupet, and Srinivasan from Perungalathur. Two others, including Dinesh Kumar, were found unconscious on the beach, while one victim remains unidentified. All deceased have been sent for post-mortem examinations.
Most of those hospitalized have since been released, with two patients still undergoing treatment at Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital. Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian defended the state’s preparations, highlighting the availability of medical facilities, paramedical teams, and drinking water at the venue. He noted that 40 ambulances and two health teams were on-site, with assistance from the Indian Army.
However, many emergency workers were seen transporting unconscious individuals to shelters. Traffic near the beach was heavily congested, and public transport struggled to accommodate the large number of attendees. Many were forced to walk long distances due to traffic restrictions, and a brief stampede-like situation arose during the exit, though police intervened to prevent further chaos.
Chennai Police had deployed 6,500 officers and 1,500 home guards for crowd management, but the large turnout posed significant challenges to public safety. Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai criticized the state government, claiming inadequate safety measures contributed to the fatalities. In a post on X, he expressed his shock and held the DMK administration accountable for insufficient facilities and transport arrangements.
