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Five Dead at First Chennai IAF Airshow in 21 Years Amid 1.5 Million Crowd

Oct 7, 2024, 03:00 AM

An Indian Air Force (IAF) airshow held at Chennai's Marina Beach on October 6, the first in the city after 21 years, resulted in the deaths of at least five spectators and the hospitalization of over 230 people due to heatstroke and dehydration. The event, intended to be a thrilling display of the IAF's aerial prowess and to set a Limca World Record for the highest number of spectators, attracted an unexpectedly large crowd estimated at up to 1.5 million people. The massive turnout led to overcrowding, with inadequate arrangements for crowd management, drinking water, and medical assistance, according to reports. Opposition parties, including the BJP, criticized the DMK government's handling of the event, citing misadministration and lack of proper facilities. Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian stated that all five deaths were due to excessive heat, and the government asserted that arrangements were made as per the IAF's requirements.