NEW DELHI, Oct 6: At least three persons who went to watch the air show at Chennai’s Marina Beach have died. Doctors said at least one of them had heat stroke.
Lakhs of people were left stranded in Chennai after the grand air show, held to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of the Indian Air Force Day on Sunday. Enthusiastic families had gathered at the Marina beach before 11 am to witness the air show. Many were seen shading themselves from the blinding sun with umbrellas.
The air show had included a show by the Special Garud Force commandos in a simulated rescue operation and in freeing the hostage. It also showcased 72 aircraft, including Rafale, indigenously manufactured state-of-the-art Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, Light Combat helicopter Prachand, and Heritage aircraft Dakota.
The traffic had come to a standstill due to poor coordination by traffic authorities. Several parts of the city witnessed similar occurrences as the massive crowd, gathered at Marina Beach, struggled to disperse after the event.
The air show, which aimed to enter the Limca Book of World Records by gathering around 16 lakh people, began at 11 am and continued until 1 pm. However, thousands of people had already gathered as early as 8 am to secure a good spot, under the blazing sun.
Several elderly attendees fainted due to heat exhaustion before the event even started. Adding to the crowd’s discomfort, nearby water vendors were removed, leaving attendees without access to drinking water. As the show ended, the enormous crowd attempted to exit simultaneously onto Kamarajar Salai, leading to a complete traffic blockade.
Weary from the sun and congestion, many people were forced to sit along the roadside to recover their strength. Fortunately, residents near the beach came to the rescue, offering drinking water to those in need. However, metro stations became overwhelmed as people sought alternative ways to return home.
The chaotic aftermath has sparked public outcry over the lack of planning and preparation. Comparisons have been drawn to the cancellation of actor Vijay’s TVK public meeting due to concerns about crowd management, while the authorities seemingly failed to make adequate arrangements for the lakhs who attended the air show.
(Manas Dasgupta)