Chennai air show deaths: Five people died due to exhaustion and poor planning

Thousands of people turned up for the air spectacle in Chennai and stood in the blazing sun for 2-3 hours; it is alleged that poor planning and management of the event led to the deaths. 

During the recent Chennai air show, at least five people were killed, and 50 others were hospitalized as a sea of spectators turned out to watch the Indian Air Force’s air show on Sunday at Marina Beach in Chennai. Reports claim that the deaths were caused by dehydration and extreme exhaustion; however, the people present there claimed that poor crowd management, lack of traffic planning, and inadequate public transport led to these deaths.

People died during the Indian Air Force’s air show in Chennai.

There were five deaths reported during the Indian Air Force’s air show in Chennai’s Marina Beach. One person died on the beachfront, and four others in the vicinity. All five were among the thousands who turned up along the several-kilometer-long shoreline to witness the air show, as told by a senior police official to the news agency PTI. The event was held in the open, began in the scorching heat of 11 am, and continued until 1 pm. Many also held umbrellas to beat the heat, standing for 2-3 hours to witness the spectacle. A government official said, “More than 50 people are in various hospitals after they complained of dehydration and exhaustion.”

Attendees voice their angst and frustration.

Attendees voiced their frustration regarding poor crowding and traffic management, which they believe contributed to significant congestion across the city. After the show’s conclusion, there was a rush to leave, leading to further public chaos, with hundreds stranded on roads outside railway and metro stations. Chennai Metro increased trains’ frequency only after the event began, leaving many waiting for more extended periods. People criticize the local authorities for their inability to anticipate and manage efficiently the crowd size. Many fainted due to exhaustion, and emergency workers carried them on stretchers.

M Subramanian, State Health Minister, defended the state’s preparedness and said, “Forty ambulances were stationed with paramedical teams.” Blaming the DMK, Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai wrote on X, “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.”