Three spectators tragically lost their lives, and 230 others were hospitalized due to dehydration during an air show in Chennai, which celebrated the 92nd anniversary of the Indian Air Force. The event, meant to showcase the IAF’s aerial skills, turned fatal as high temperatures and overcrowding strained the attendees.
The deceased were identified as Srinivasan (48) from Perungalathur, Karthikeyan (34) from Thiruvottiyur, and John (56) from Korukuppet.
Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K Annamalai expressed profound shock over the incident, blaming the state’s ruling DMK government for failing to implement basic safety measures and transportation arrangements. “The loss of five lives cannot be passed off as an accident,” Annamalai remarked, criticizing Chief Minister MK Stalin for prioritizing political promotion over public safety. He called for accountability for what he referred to as “the misery of hundreds of families” affected by the tragedy, asserting, “The Chief Minister must be answerable to the public.”
AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami voiced his grief and anger, extending condolences to the victims’ families. In a strongly worded tweet, he condemned the Tamil Nadu government for its mismanagement, stating, “My strong condemnation to the MK Stalin government for failing to provide proper security for this event.”
Many attendees found themselves stranded in Chennai as the grand air show concluded amid poor coordination by traffic authorities. Similar scenes were observed across the city as the massive crowd gathered at Marina Beach struggled to disperse.
The air show aimed to enter the Limca Book of World Records by attracting approximately 1.6 million attendees. It began at 11 am and lasted until 1 pm, with crowds arriving as early as 8 am to secure good viewing spots under the sweltering sun. Several elderly attendees experienced heat exhaustion before the event started.
Compounding the discomfort, nearby water vendors were removed, leaving participants without access to drinking water. When the event concluded, the massive crowd attempted to exit simultaneously onto Kamarajar Salai, resulting in complete traffic blockades. Exhausted from the heat and congestion, many people had to sit by the roadside to recover.
Fortunately, nearby residents came to help by providing drinking water. However, metro stations quickly became overwhelmed as people sought alternative transportation home.
The chaotic aftermath has ignited public outrage over the apparent lack of planning and preparation. Comparisons have been made to the cancellation of actor Vijay’s TVK public meeting due to crowd management concerns, highlighting the authorities’ failure to adequately prepare for the large turnout at the air show.
