5 Dead, 100 Hospitalized After IAF Event in Chennai, TN Govt. Refutes Mismanagement Claims

The IAF event, Chennai turned into a tragic stampede with 5 dead and 100 hospitalized due to lack of water, crowd control, and safety measures

What was meant to be a spectacular display of aerial power at the Indian Air Force (IAF) airshow in Chennai turned into a tragic event as five people lost their lives and over 100 were hospitalized, mainly due to heatstroke and dehydration. The airshow, which took place on Sunday, October 6, at Marina Beach, attracted over 15 lakh spectators but faced significant criticism over crowd management and safety measures.

Thousands gathered along the beach to witness the 92nd-anniversary celebrations of the IAF, which featured 72 fighter jets, including Rafales, SU-30s, and Tejas jets. Despite the grandeur of the event, many spectators were left exposed to the scorching October heat without adequate shade or water. This led to numerous cases of fainting and heatstroke among attendees. Some described the situation as chaotic, with police reports stating that nearly a dozen people collapsed due to overcrowding and heat exhaustion. Emergency services faced significant delays as ambulances struggled to navigate the dense crowds and blocked roads.

In response to the mounting criticism, the Tamil Nadu government has denied claims of mismanagement. In a press statement released on Sunday, October 6, the state government emphasized that it had provided facilities and made arrangements beyond what was requested by the IAF. Health Minister Ma Subramanian asserted that the state had extended full cooperation to ensure the smooth conduct of the event.

The Minister pointed out that the government deployed two health teams staffed with doctors and nurses at the venue. Additionally, 40 ambulances were stationed for emergency care, and 100 beds were made ready across government hospitals, including Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Despite the overwhelming heat and large crowds, the government stated that no inpatients remained at the Royapettah and Omandurar hospitals, with the few hospitalized patients at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital reported to be stable. “No one died in the crowd. No deaths are related to crowd or mismanagement,” the government’s statement read.

One of the biggest criticisms from attendees was the lack of proper transportation arrangements. Many people were stuck for nearly an hour after the event, as the main beach road and feeder roads were completely blocked. Spectators faced difficulties returning home, with public transport services being insufficient to handle the large crowd.

DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai echoed this concern, pointing the finger at the Indian Railways for not operating enough trains during the event. He argued that the southern railways failed to meet the transportation demands of such a large gathering and suggested that the issue was being politicized unfairly. “It was an event conducted by the Union government,” he said, questioning their role in organizing and managing the crowd.

While the airshow highlighted India’s aerial strength under the theme “Sashakt, Saksham, Atmanirbhar” (Potent, Powerful, Self-reliant), the incident has raised serious questions about event coordination and public safety. Despite the Tamil Nadu government’s defense, the mishandling of crowd control, transportation, and emergency services remains a point of contention for many attendees.

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