Chennai Airshow: 4 spectators die; 15 lakh people attend IAF event

At least four persons died at the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) airshow in Chennai on Sunday (October 6) allegedly due to heatstroke and poor crowd management after over 15 lakh people turned up to watch the spectacular aerial display.

Nearly 100 people were hospitalised and many fainted due to hot and humid conditions during the airshow.

Also read: IAF airshow in Chennai: Spectacular aerial display steals hearts

Enthusiastic families gathered on the sands of the Marina beach, many holding umbrellas to shield themselves from the blazing sun, ahead of 11 am when the airshow commenced.

92nd IAF Day celebrations

The Chennai Airshow was part of the 92nd IAF Day celebrations.

After the event was over, thousands of people found it extremely arduous to return home.

A defence press release said 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 roof tops 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 said.

Traffic snarls

The Lighthouse metro station nearby and the Chennai MRTS railway station at Velachery, which serves as the closest junction connecting Chintadripet near the Marina, were swarmed by several hundreds of people and many found it difficult to even get a foothold to stand on the platform. Despite this, many risked journeying while others had to miss the train.

The bus stop at Anna Square, in close proximity to the aerial display venue, overflowed with people.

"Nearly a dozen people swooned on the Marina due to a near stampede-like situation and also because of the hot weather, and they were treated at a government facility," a senior police official said.

The police had to step in to clear the traffic to allow the three ambulances to reach the hospital, he said.

The arterial roads from Marina connecting various parts of the city too were affected by traffic snarls and the vehicles remained stationary for several minutes at a spot.

"I found it extremely difficult to take the MRTS train to Chintadripet as Velachery station was fully packed with people eager to see the air display," K Sridhar from Velachery said. Nevertheless, he managed to take his family of four to the Marina and back, though fully sapped of energy while commuting home.

Traffic near the Marina beach was restored nearly three hours after the airshow by IAF aircraft concluded at 1 pm, the police official said.

(With agency inputs)