Air show in Chennai turns tragic, 3 dead, 230 hospitalized due to dehydration

What was meant to be a celebration of the 92nd anniversary of the Indian Air Force turned into a tragedy when three spectators lost their lives and 230 others were hospitalized due to dehydration at an air show in Chennai.

What was meant to be a celebration of the 92nd anniversary of the Indian Air Force turned into a tragedy when three spectators lost their lives and 230 others were hospitalized due to dehydration at an air show in Chennai.

According to authorities, the combination of scorching temperatures and overcrowding had serious consequences for participants.

The victims are Srinivasan (48) from Perungalathur, Karthikeyan (34) from Thiruvottiyur and John (56) from Korukuppet.

What led to this tragedy?

The event, held at Marina Beach, aimed to showcase the flying capabilities of the Indian Air Force while setting a record by gathering an estimated 16,000 spectators.

The show, which started at 11 a.m. and ran until 1 p.m., attracted crowds from as early as 8 a.m., with people braving the blazing sun to secure a good spot.

Unfortunately, the lack of sufficient coordination by transport authorities led to chaos in several parts of the city as participants struggled to disperse after the event ended. Many remained stranded, especially on Kamarajar Salai, where heavy traffic and traffic jams led to a complete blockade.

The situation worsened when water vendors near the event were removed and spectators were left with no access to drinking water. The intense heat caused several elderly visitors to faint before the air show began, and as the crowds rushed to leave, many people sat exhausted on the side of the road trying to regain their strength.

Opposition reaction

Meanwhile, this tragic incident sparked outrage, with political leaders condemning the lack of planning and security measures. Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai expressed deep shock and blamed the ruling DMK government for the deaths.

Furthermore, he criticized the administration for failing to ensure basic security and transportation arrangements, saying, “The loss of human life cannot be dismissed as an accident.” Furthermore, Annamalai accused Prime Minister Stalin of prioritizing political gains over public safety to provide. Therefore, accountability is required.

AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami also expressed his grief and frustration and condoled with the families of the victims. In a strongly worded tweet, he condemned the state government’s mismanagement of the event and said, “I strongly condemn MK Stalin’s government for failing to ensure adequate security for this event.”

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