Meanwhile, the Chennai police stated that they successfully rescued 61 people, including 25 children, who were lost in the crowd during the Air show.
Published Oct 07, 2024 | 1:49 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 07, 2024 | 1:49 PM
Tamil Nadu Minister blames exteme heat for Chennai Air show mishap. (Supplied)
Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Minister Ma Subramanian on Monday, 7 October, blamed extreme heat for the death of five people at the Chennai Air Show.
Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted an airshow in Chennai’s Marina Beach on Sunday to commemorate the force’s 92nd anniversary.
However, the event turned deadly as approximately 4,00,000 people gathered to watch the show at the beach, among whom, over 200 fainted due to heatstroke.
As the Opposition criticised the DMK government for mismanagement, the minister blamed extreme heat for the deaths.
Expressing sorrow over the death of five individuals, Ma Subramanian urged that these tragic deaths should not be politicised.
In a statement, the minister explained that all five victims were brought to the hospital in critical condition and, unfortunately, did not survive. He emphasised that the heat was severe during the event, and while the Air Force had advised attendees to bring umbrellas and water, the extreme conditions took a toll.
“Currently, only seven people are receiving treatment in the hospital for heat-related issues,” he added.
On Sunday, of the 200 people who fainted, 93 individuals required urgent medical attention and were transported by 40 ambulances to the Omandurar Government Hospital, where they received treatment for heat-related issues.
Minister @Subramanian_ma ‘s Statement on #ChennaiAirShow Tragedy:
Minister for People’s Welfare Ma. Subramanian expressed sorrow over the deaths of 5 individuals due to heatstroke during the airshow at #ChennaiMarina. He urged that these tragic deaths not be politicised.
The… pic.twitter.com/B9ZYHW2v1S
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) October 7, 2024
Meanwhile, the Chennai police stated that they successfully rescued 61 people, including 25 children, who were lost in the crowd during the Air show.
On the other hand, Tamil Nadu BJP Vice President Narayanan Thirupathy criticised the state government for inadequate preparations at the Chennai Air show, claiming that no arrangements were made for specially-abled individuals.
He further alleged that despite anticipating large crowds, the government prioritised bureaucrats and VVIPs over the needs of the common public, calling the negligence unacceptable.
Minister Ma Subramanian on Sunday in a statement noted: “The Tamil Nadu government ensured full administrative support for the successful conduct of the Indian Air Force’s aerial event in Chennai. A coordination meeting, led by the Chief Secretary, was held with Air Force and government officials, followed by several departmental discussions to streamline the planning and execution.”
“All requests from the Indian Air Force were thoroughly considered, and arrangements were made accordingly. Two state government health teams, including doctors and nurses, were stationed at the event, along with medical teams provided by the Indian Army. Forty ambulances were also on standby for emergency needs.”
The statement further read, “In addition, 100 beds and 65 doctors were readied at government hospitals, including the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. The Greater Chennai Corporation and the Chennai Water Supply and Sewerage Board facilitated temporary toilets and drinking water provisions at Marina Beach. Anticipating a large crowd, 7,500 police personnel were deployed for security. All necessary facilities exceeded the Air Force’s requests, ensuring the smooth execution of the event.”
Meanwhile, Urbaser Sumeet — the company that was engaged in waste management after the event — said the air show saw a total of 18.5 tons of waste collected during and after the event, of which four tons consisted of PET bottles.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula, with inputs from Baskar P)
