New Delhi: The October 6 air show, held to commemorate the Indian Air Force’s 92nd anniversary turned into a nightmare at Chennai’s Marina Beach, when a crowd of more than 12 lakh people surged toward exits, leaving five dead and many hospitalised. It was the first such event in Chennai in over two decades. The spectacle of military aviation ended in chaos as the sheer size of the crowd overwhelmed both organisers and local authorities.
Five deaths had been confirmed and 40 people were in hospitals by late Sunday evening. “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,” an officer said, The Indian Express reported.
By 7 am, people had begun assembling at the two-kilometre stretch of coastline to secure vantage points for the 11.30 am to 1 pm air show. People were eager to witness the show, which had even earned a spot in the Limca Book of Records for its unprecedented attendance.
However, when it event ended at 1 pm, the entire crowd attempted to leave the area at once. Traffic authorities were unprepared to manage the mass exodus, and soon, congestion built up around Marina Beach, paralysing movement for more than an hour. Eyewitnesses reported panic among attendees as they found themselves trapped, according to the report.
A 34-year-old man who came with his family suffered a fatal heart attack. Many who attended the show had experiences of dehydration and fainting, as temperatures soared to 36 degrees Celsius, with no provision for water or medical assistance readily available, the report added quoting attendees.
To add to this, Chennai Metro Rail Limited services proved insufficient to ferry the massive number of attendees. Crowds swelled not only at the beach but at train stations like Velachery and Government Estate, with photos and videos of the unprecedented crowd at these local stations going viral on social media.
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