The air show tragedy at Chennai’s Marina Beach has led Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to address the unfortunate incident. On Sunday, an aerial display organised by the Indian Air Force (IAF) drew thousands of spectators to the beach.
Despite efforts to provide adequate support and facilities, the event resulted in the deaths of five individuals and hospitalisation of nearly 100 people due to heat-related issues.
Stalin expressed his regret over the incident and assured the public that the state had gone beyond the requested measures by the IAF to support the event. However, the number of attendees far exceeded expectations, leading to logistical challenges.
Chief Minister Stalin announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh for the families of those who died as a result of the heat. Acknowledging the difficulties faced by the public, he noted that many people struggled to reach their vehicles and access public transport after the event due to the unexpected large crowd.
He emphasised that in future, more attention would be given to these logistical aspects to ensure the smooth movement and safety of attendees. Stalin assured that better arrangements would be made for any such large-scale event in the future to prevent such difficulties.
Actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay also expressed his condolences over the tragic deaths. He called on the Tamil Nadu government to implement effective measures to manage facilities and security at events of such magnitude.
Vijay pointed out that the public’s grievances were reported in the media, highlighting issues related to basic facilities and transport. He urged the state government to ensure proper implementation of these essential needs, especially in places where large crowds gather.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu’s Health Minister Ma Subramanian confirmed the deaths due to heat exposure and stated that nearly 100 people had been hospitalised.
Of those hospitalised, seven were still undergoing treatment, while 93 people had been discharged after receiving medical care. The minister noted that the affected individuals suffered from heat-related problems as they stood under the scorching sun for long periods.
Despite the air show’s scheduled timing of 11 am to 1 pm, most people began gathering at the venue at least an hour earlier. This resulted in the crowd being exposed to extreme heat for nearly three hours.
Many people attempted to shield themselves with umbrellas, but the conditions proved overwhelming for some, leading to the tragic loss of lives and several cases of hospitalisation.
In response to the incident, Minister Stalin reiterated that the Tamil Nadu government had provided all necessary administrative support and facilities for the IAF’s air show beyond what was initially requested.
However, he admitted that improvements are needed in managing large events, especially with crowd control and transport arrangements.
He assured the public that future events would be better organised, with more focus on ensuring safety and convenience for attendees.
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