At least five people collapsed and died of suspected heatstroke and dehydration
in Chennai while returning from an air show, held on the Marina beach to mark
the Indian Air Force’s 92nd anniversary.

Scores of others fainted in the scorching heat and needed to be taken to hospital, police said, as many spectators and the Tamil Nadu Opposition alleged inadequate arrangements and failure to anticipate a large gathering aimed for the record books.

An estimated 15 lakh people had thronged the beach since morning on a hot and suffocating day, many carrying umbrellas and water bottles as advised by the authorities.

As the sea of spectators began leaving after the two-hour show, which ended around 1pm, the traffic was uncontrollable, adding to the distress.

The dead have been identified as Karthikeyan (34), D. John (56), Srinivasan, Mani and Dinesh.

John fainted while walking home with his wife and another relative after the show. He was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead. Another victim was found dead on the beach.

The exact cause of the deaths would be known only after the post-mortem, a source at the government-run Rajiv Gandhi Hospital in Chennai said. The hospital treated some 43 people suffering from dehydration before discharging them.

Officers said nearly 100 people were treated for dizziness at various hospitals near the Marina beach, some of them brought in the ambulances kept on stand-by as part of the arrangements for the show, sources said. Most were treated as outpatients.

Many people complained that drinking water arrangements at the venue had fallen short of requirements because of the unexpectedly high footfall.

But Tamil Nadu health minister Ma. Subramanian said the government had made sufficient arrangements, with 40 ambulances and enough beds at nearby government hospitals ready to meet any emergencies.

Leader of the Opposition and AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami blamed the DMK government for the deaths, alleging it had failed to make proper arrangements for the event.

The threat of a stampede had seemed to loom for a while when tens of thousands tried to leave the venue at the same time, but the police said they were able to regulate the crowd and create a safe passage for the ambulances.

Following the air show, arterial roads — especially those close to the beach — were choked and local trains and buses were jam-packed. With traffic restrictions in place, and the nearest bus stops crammed, many people had to walk a considerable distance to catch buses or trains.

Some 72 aircraft took part in the display, which is set to enter the Limca Book of World Records, PTI reported.

Chief minister M.K. Stalin, who watched the air show, posted a message on X saying: “Chennai has enjoyed the spectacular show in its sky by the superstars- our IAF heroes!”

Additional reporting by PTI