Chennai: At least five persons died and several others were hospitalized after watching an Indian Force air show at Chennai’s Marina Beach on Sunday amid searing temperatures with many complaining of dehydration, Scroll reported.
Several attendees fainted after the show, which was held between 11:30 am and 1 pm with temperatures hitting 36 degree Celsius.
Though more than 15 lakh people turned up to watch the show, the organisers did not arrange water or medical assistance, according to The Indian Express.
Heavy congestion was reported as the crowds started to leave after the show concluded at 1 pm.
The newspaper reported citing an officer that more than 150 people were given first aid for dehydration.
The officer said one death was reported on the beach, another person died near Napier Bridge just two km away from Marina Beach, while others died on their way back home.
V Karthikeyan, a 34-year-old resident of RMV Nagar in Thiruvottiyur, who died of heart attack near Napier Bridge, came to the show with his family.
Srinivasan, 48, died near Santhome after collapsing in a parking area, and it is reported that John Babu, 56, a former staff member of the Omandurar hospital, died while taking his scooter from hospital parking lot.
Another man, identified as Dinesh was also found dead near the shore.
The police are yet to identify the fifth person who died following the air show.
The Opposition came down heavily on the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for arranging the show without adequate planning and complained of ‘poor crowd management’.
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Edappadi K Palaniswami accused the government of having not properly managed the show.
Bharatiya Janata Party’s Tamil Nadu unit chief K Annamalai expressed shock alongside accusing the state government of negligence.