A tragic incident unfolded at an air show in Chennai, celebrating the 92nd anniversary of the Indian Air Force, where three spectators lost their lives, and over 230 others were hospitalized due to dehydration. The event, intended to showcase the aerial prowess of the Indian Air Force, was marred by high temperatures and overcrowding, leading to a disastrous outcome for attendees.
The deceased have been identified as Srinivasan (48) from Perungalathur, Karthikeyan (34) from Thiruvottiyur, and John (56) from Korukuppett. Thousands of people were left stranded in Chennai as the air show concluded, largely due to poor coordination by traffic authorities. Marina Beach, a key gathering point, saw massive crowds struggling to disperse following the event.
The air show aimed to enter the Limca Book of World Records by attracting around 1.6 million attendees. It began at 11 am and ran until 1 pm, but many spectators arrived as early as 8 am to secure prime viewing spots under the scorching sun. The heat proved overwhelming, with several elderly attendees fainting from exhaustion even before the show started.
Compounding the situation, nearby water vendors were removed, depriving attendees of access to drinking water. As the event concluded, the enormous crowd attempted to exit onto Kamarajar Salai simultaneously, resulting in a complete traffic blockade. Many exhausted individuals were forced to sit along the roadside to recover from the heat and congestion.
Fortunately, local residents stepped in to help, providing drinking water to those in distress. However, metro stations quickly became overwhelmed as people sought alternative transportation options to return home.
The chaotic aftermath of the air show has sparked public outrage over the lack of planning and preparation. Critics have drawn comparisons 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 number of attendees at the air show.
