A tragic spectacle

The Marina Beach fiasco cannot be dismissed as a random tragedy. As in several other cases in the past, many questions about accountability remained unanswered. What was supposed to be a grand display of national pride and military prowess turned into a tragic day for many in Chennai. On October 6, more than 12,000 people – including children and the elderly, men and women – gathered at Marina Beach to celebrate the big air show. The joyous euphoria turned into a somber manifestation at the end of the day when five people lost their lives and many more suffered from exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke.

Management’s failures couldn’t be more blatant. While the event was widely advertised and fulfilled the promise of greatness in many ways, the scant regard for the safety of the masses gathered revealed that the priorities were misplaced. The event remained hidden from no one. Due to the record-breaking turnout, the event’s name was even entered into the Limca Book of Records. The overwhelming crowd was eagerly awaited. Therefore, the only explanations for the event are the ignorance of the administration and the unruly behavior of the crowd. The latter could in turn be traced back to the former itself.

Like the audience, the rise in temperature did not come unannounced. As temperatures rose to 36 degrees Celsius, the situation on site began to deteriorate. People were prepared with umbrellas and water bottles, but it wasn’t enough to ward off the oppressive heat. Medical care and drinking stations were either inadequate or poorly organized, leaving many people in distress. In total, more than 100 people were treated for dizziness and heat stroke and two were taken to hospitals in critical condition. The lack of shade, water and proper first aid became painfully apparent.

Those who witnessed the aftermath describe scenes of confusion and helplessness. Ambulances were overwhelmed as emergency services rushed to get the most vulnerable to hospitals. Tragedies arising from crowd mismanagement are definitely not new in India. Recently, we saw over a hundred people lose their lives in a stampede in Hathras and reports show that Bhole Baba – the seer under whose patronage the masses gathered – was not named in the charge sheet. The lack of accountability as the furore surrounding the incident subsides reflects the insignificance given to people’s lives compared to other influences.

As expected, political parties have already started exchanging blame. However, no one group is to blame for this misfortune. Rather, it is an extension of the broader trend of general failures in the way crowds are handled across the country, whether expected or not. It is a fact that while the state government had expected a large crowd, it was clearly unprepared for the reality of over 12,000 people crammed into a small space in intense heat. Basic amenities such as drinking water, shaded rest areas and medical care were woefully inadequate. While the organizers put on an exciting air show, they seemed to overlook the importance of ensuring the safety of the audience. Human lives cannot be conveniently sacrificed on the altar of national pride and magnificence when it is unwarranted. Talks of national pride and success aside, the tragedy is actually a pure administrative failure, regardless of the theme of the event.