At least three people died during the Indian Air Force (IAF) air show at Chennai’s Marina Beach, officials confirmed on Sunday. Reports indicate that dehydration and a heavy crowd contributed to the fatalities, with 230 others hospitalized for similar reasons.
Crowd Chaos and Medical Emergencies
The air show, celebrating the IAF’s 92nd foundation day, ran from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eyewitnesses reported that the nearby Lighthouse metro station and Velachery railway station were overwhelmed with returning crowds. Many attendees struggled to find space on the platforms, causing significant congestion.
A police officer noted that “nearly a dozen people swooned on the Marina due to a near stampede-like situation and the hot weather.” Emergency services treated these individuals at a government facility.
Traffic Disruptions Across the City
The influx of people also caused major traffic snarls, affecting key roads connecting Marina Beach to other parts of Chennai. K. Sridhar, an attendee from Velachery, described the scene at the Velachery station: “I found it extremely difficult to take the MRTS train at Velachery as the station was fully packed with people eager to see the air display. I managed to take my family of four to the Marina and back, though we were fully sapped of energy on our return.”
Traffic conditions returned to normal nearly three hours after the event concluded, but the impact of the chaos lingered as many sought to leave the area. The situation highlights the need for better crowd management at large public events.
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