CHENNAI: Four people died and over 90 were hospitalised for fainting and dehydration at an IAF airshow on Sunday at Chennai’s Marina Beach, which was filled to capacity. About 15 lakh spectators turned up for the event, according to estimates, marking a record for an airshow.
After the airshow ended, a large crowd attempted to leave all at once, creating a stampede-like situation.Exit points became congested, with people stuck for more than 40 minutes under the scorching sun. Desperate to escape, some attendees broke through barricades, and children suffered minor injuries in the chaos.
Ambulances were trapped in the crowd for over 30 minutes, delaying the transport of the affected people to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) and Omandurar Government Hospital. Although around 50 ambulances were deployed, with 20 stationed along the beach road, navigating through the dense crowd proved challenging.
Among the deceased was D John, 56, from Korukkupet, who attended the event with his wife, Elisamma, and brother-in-law, Shamkumar. After watching the show near Parthasarathy Temple Arch on Kamarajar Road, he collapsed around 3pm. An ambulance struggled to reach him through the crowd, but he was declared dead on arrival at Omandurar Hospital.
Karthikeyan, 34, from Thiruvottiyur, experienced chest pain while riding his bike after leaving the event. He collapsed near INS Adyar and was rushed to RGGGH, where he was declared dead.
“The cause of death can be determined after a postmortem. Heat stroke cannot be ruled out,” RGGGH dead Dr E Theranirajan said. The other two victims were Srinivasan from Chromepet, who died while retrieving his bike from a parking lot after attending the show with his daughter, and Dinesh from Tambaram, who suffered a heart attack.
Over 230 people were treated for fainting and dehydration, with 93 hospitalised at Omandurar and RGGGH. The intense heat and chaotic exit left many seeking relief.
“It was suffocating; I had been stuck for over 40 minutes trying to get my mother, who uses a wheelchair, out,” said S Sukshma. Mobile signal jammers hindered the coordination of rescue and medical efforts.