A historic day turned into a nightmare for 12 lakh people, attending an Indian Air Force (IAF) 92nd Anniversary event on Marina Beach in Chennai on Sunday. A crowd of over 12 lakh people rushed towards the exits, resulting in five deaths and numerous hospitalizations.
The October 6 air show, organized to celebrate the IAF event, marked the first event of its kind in Chennai in more than twenty years. Approximately 100 others were treated as outpatients at government hospitals.
A senior police officer said that by late Sunday evening, five deaths had been confirmed and 40 people were in hospitals. “Over 150 people have received first aid in various parts of the city due to the dehydration and stress they faced. One death was reported on the beach, another near Napier Bridge. Other victims died on their way back home at different places. It was not a stampede situation at one particular place,” the officer said.
The event, heavily promoted by the IAF, drew over 12 lakh spectators to the expansive Marina Beach. By 7 a.m., people had already begun gathering along the two-kilometer stretch of coastline, hoping to secure good viewing spots for the air show scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Families, children, and elderly people arrived by trains, metros, buses, and private vehicles, including thousands of cars and motorcycles excited to witness the show, which even earned a place in the Limca Book of Records for its remarkable attendance.
We received 43 people with complaints of giddiness. When the temperature goes up, the hypothalamus cannot function properly. It goes for systemic inflammatory response syndrome, affecting the functions of vital organs. Some people suffer from arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), leading to cardiac arrest and death, Dr. Therani Rajan said.
The patients had experienced severe heatstroke, and doctors suggested that underlying health issues may have contributed to their collapse. EMRI 108 ambulance officials reported that over 100 patients were transported to hospitals. Numerous people voiced concerns that the government had failed to provide necessary amenities, particularly safe drinking water.
