'Not Due To Stampede-Like Situation': DMK Responds To Criticism After 5 Die At Chennai IAF Airshow

At least five people died, while hundreds others were admitted to hospitals on Sunday due to causes including extreme exhaustion and dehydration amid a spectacular aerial display of Indian Air Force aircraft over the skies of Marina Beach in Chennai. A senior city police official told news agency PTI that one person died on the beachfront and four others in the vicinity and that all five were among the thousands who had gathered along the several kilometre-long shoreline to witness the air show.

The incident led to a political blame game, with the Opposition demanding the resignation of key leaders of Chief Minister MK Stalin’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government. Meanwhile, the state government has claimed none of the deaths occurred due to a stampede-like situation or mismanagement.

Soon after the incident, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief Edappadi K Palaniswami condemned the DMK government for the incident and alleged it failed to coordinate and that it did not provide proper security arrangements for such a significant event.

“On the occasion of the 92nd Inauguration Day of the Indian Air Force, one of the main components of the Indian Defense Department, an air adventure program was staged in Chennai today to celebrate the strength of the Air Force. As the notification for this was published in advance, knowing that lakhs of people will come to visit, the Tamil Nadu government informed that arrangements have been made for transportation and basic facilities,” a rough translation of Palaniswami’s post in regional language suggested.

“The news is shocking that people are stuck in heavy traffic, even drinking water is not available, and many people have been admitted to hospital due to heatstroke and 5 people have died so far. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. My strong condemnation of the Vidya DMK government for failing to properly coordinate even an event of such importance. Events to celebrate the end of the Air Force have been going well in various cities of India so far, but the loss of life in the event that took place in Tamil Nadu today is very sad. My strong condemnation to this MK Stalin government for failing to provide proper security for this event,” he wrote.

Countering the accusations, a DMK leader told CNN-News18, “Most of the patients have been discharged, two are there at the Rajiv Gandhi Hospital and are being treated for some health issues, but both are stable.”

“No one died in the crowd, no death is related to crowd or mismanagement,” he said.

Also speaking to CNN-News 18, DMK leader Saravanan Annadurai claimed that the event was organised properly and that the deaths of the five people should be investigated.

“The event was organised in a proper manner. We have to find out how five people lost their lives. It was a hot day and people had to walk some kilometres. Blaming the DMK government is just politicising the incident,” he said.

DMK MP Kanimozhi, elected from the Thoothukudi Lok Sabha constituency, also said that such large gatherings should be avoided.

“The news of the death of 5 people is very sad and painful when the public who witnessed the military flight adventure program held at the Marina beach in Chennai suffered from the crowd and the temperature was high. Unmanageable gatherings should also be avoided,” she wrote in an X post.

Meanwhile, AIADMK leader Kovai Sathyan demanded the state Health Minister’s resignation and said, “When you have an incompetent person as your chief minister, his counsel of ministers will also be incompetent. You cannot accept a better result than this. While MK Stalin and his family happily watched the show in the air-conditioned makeshift, the people had to walk for five to ten km to watch this air show.”

“There was no public address system that could guide the people. There were no booths giving water and there was no medical assistance. There was no traffic management. It is a complete mismanagement. Precious lives have been lost. Ma Subramanian has any one element of empathy and self-consciousness he should resign as the Health Minister,” he said.

Also slamming the DMK government, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai in an X post wrote, “I was very shocked to know that 5 people died due to crowding and more than 200 people were injured and were admitted to the hospital for treatment during the air adventure program held by the Indian Air Force at Chennai Marina Beach. The only reason for this is that the DMK government has not taken care of the safety of the public without providing basic facilities and adequate transport arrangements for the public.”

“The fact that Chief Minister Stalin did not even make the arrangements for his self-promotions for an event attended by lakhs of people shows the utter failure of his administration. The loss of 5 lives cannot be passed off as an accident. The DMK government is fully responsible for this as it neglected even the basic arrangements.”

“I strongly condemn Chief Minister Stalin and the DMK government for ruling only for his family and without any concern for the lives of the people, which has caused the death of 5 people and the misery of hundreds of families. The Chief Minister must be answerable to the public,” Annamalai wrote.

TAMIL NADU HEALTH MINISTER RESPONDS

As the Opposition questioned the state government’s arrangements, Ma Subramanian claimed there was full administrative cooperation from the government for the airshow. He also said those admitted to hospitals were being provided proper medical care.

“Full administrative cooperation of the government of Tamil Nadu was extended to successfully conduct the Indian Air Force Air Adventure Program at Chennai. In order to properly plan and conduct the event, a coordination meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary with Indian Air Force officers and Tamil Nadu government department officials once and then several times at the departmental level,” Ma Subramanian wrote in an X post.

“In these consultative meetings, arrangements were made keeping in mind all the demands of the Air Force officers. Two health teams, with an adequate number of doctors and nurses, have been deployed on behalf of the state government at the venue. Apart from this, medical teams were formed on behalf of the Indian Army. Apart from this, 40 ambulances were also stationed there for emergency medical assistance. Adequate paramedical teams were also constituted,” he wrote.

“Hunderd beds and 65 doctors were kept ready at government medical college hospitals including Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Necessary arrangements have been made for adequate number of temporary latrines and drinking water supply at the Marina Beach by the Chennai Metropolitan Corporation and the Chennai Water and Sewerage Board. Seventy-five hundred security guards have been deployed for security in view of the possibility of large number of people coming.”

“I would like to inform you that all the facilities and arrangements have been made by the Government of Tamil Nadu for the Indian Air Force program held in Chennai today,” the state’s Health Minister wrote.

TRAGEDY STRIKES IAF AIRSHOW IN CHENNAI

Though the event commenced at 11 am, many had gathered at the venue hours in advance. The event concluded at 1 pm.

Following the event, arterial roads, especially those close to the beach area, were fully choked and local trains, including the MRTS and Metro, besides buses, were jampacked.

The bus stop at Anna Square, in close proximity to the display venue, overflowed with people. In view of the traffic restrictions, people had to walk a considerable distance to catch buses or reach train stations.

Though a stampede-like situation emerged for a while when thousands tried to exit the venue at the same time, police said they successfully regulated the crowd and made safe passage for ambulances, PTI reported.

Enthusiastic families gathered on the sands of Marina Beach when the air show commenced with the Special Garud Force commandos of the IAF displaying their daring skills in a simulated rescue operation and in freeing the hostage.

Para jump instructors making an accurate landing on the target area and the commandos slithering in to reach the target area held the spectators spellbound.

The 92nd IAF Day celebration on the Marina, between the Lighthouse and Chennai Port, was witnessed among others by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, MK Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, state ministers, Chennai Mayor R Priya and a host of other dignitaries.

Though the clear skies provided a good view of the fascinating air show by the IAF aircraft, people gathered on the sandy beach flashed their umbrellas for an aerial photograph from the IAF aircraft towards the end of the mega show at 1 pm.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE IAF AIRSHOW IN CHENNAI

Nearly 72 aircraft took part in the air display which is set to enter the Limca Book of World Records.

About 50 aircraft including the supersonic fighter jets Rafale indulged in a formation showering flares. Heritage aircraft Dakota and Harvard, Tejas, SU-30, and Sarang, also, participated in the aerial salute.

The Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet performed the “Loop-tumble-yaw” manoeuvrability and dispensed flares.

The Suryakiiran, too, took to the skies to enthrall the crowd.

The nation’s pride, and our own indigenously manufactured state-of-the-art Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, and Light Combat Helicopter Prachand, too take part in the flypast and aerial display held in Chennai after a gap of 21 years with the theme: “Saksham, Sashakta, Amtanirbhar.” It is the third time such one outside the national capital. The last spectacle was carried out over the Sangam area in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on October 8, 2023, and in Chandigarh in the previous year.

The grand finale was a breathtaking performance by the Sarang helicopter display team that performed a stunning aerial manoeuvre.

The Rafale streaking across the sky and demonstrating refuelling capability, and the Dakota in action was a sight to behold.

The aircraft that were involved in making formation that were named as Kanchi, Nataraj, Dhanush, Marina, and Nilgiris.

According to a defence release, over 15 lakh people witnessed the colourful and scintillating performance of the nation’s air warriors with their over 72 aircraft.

“The entire beachfront and the rooftops of high-rise buildings right from Kovalam in the East Coast Road to Ennore were filled with people to watch the airshow that returned to the city after about 21 years,” it stated.

This was one of the biggest air shows ever, the release mentioned, adding that the annual event used to be held in Delhi for a long time. It was shifted out of the national capital three years ago to provide an opportunity for people of other cities to watch the event.