On the occasion of the 92nd anniversary of the Air Force, the ‘Air Show’ was organized at the Marina Beach in Chennai. But due to overcrowding and excessive heat, many fell ill there. It was reported on Sunday that three people fell ill and died. The death toll rose to five on Sunday. More than two hundred people are still under treatment in the hospital.
The opposition BJP and ADMK have blamed Tamil Nadu’s DMK government and Chief Minister MK Stalin for the entire incident. Annamalai, BJP president of that state, blamed the DMK on social media and wrote, “The state government did not even think about the minimum security of the people. People did not get the services they needed. Far fewer vehicles are driven than required.” Jayalalitha’s party, ADMK, also criticized the Stalin government in this incident. Party leader and former chief minister EK Palaniswami wrote on social media, “There was no provision of drinking water for the people who went to watch the air show. Many people are hospitalized due to heatstroke.”
In this situation, DMK leader Kanimozhi said on Monday that the uncontrolled crowd could have been avoided. On the other hand, there is a question about whether he blamed the administration led by his party for this incident or not. Tamil Nadu Health Minister MA Subrahmanyam, however, said that the administration had taken all necessary steps in compliance with the request of the Air Force. Initially, it was decided that the special exhibition would be shown across the sky of Chennai from 11 am to 1 pm on Sunday. Several aircraft of the Air Force will participate in the exhibition. But many thronged the Marina Beach from 8 a.m. to watch the exhibition from a good and convenient place. Locals complained that there was no water supply required for so many people. Many fell in haste while leaving.
