Chennai: The IAF Air Show 2024 in Chennai took a tragic turn after six spectators died due to alleged suffocation. Condemning these deaths and blaming the DMK government for ‘mismanagement’, AIADMK has demanded the resignation of Ma Subramanian, the Health Minister of Tamil Nadu.
AIADMK Demands Health Minister’s Resignation After Chennai Air Show
Blaming the DMK government for ‘complete mismanagement’ at the IAF Air Show 2024 which resulted in the deaths of six spectators, AIADMK leader Kovai Sathyan has demanded the resignation of Ma Subramanian, the Health Minister of Tamil Nadu government.
In his words, “In front of my eyes, children were falling. There was no public address system that could guide the people. There were no booths giving water and there was no medical assistance. There was no traffic management. It is a complete mismanagement…Precious lives have been lost. Ma Subramanian has any one element of empathy and self-consciousness he should resign as the health minister.”
Calling the Chief Minister of the state ‘incompetent’, Sathyan further said, “When you have an incompetent person as your chief minister, his counsel of ministers will also be incompetent. You cannot accept a better result than this. While MK Stalin and his family happily watched the show in the air-conditioned makeshift, the people had to walk for 5-10kms to watch this air show.”
‘No Death Due to Crowd or Mismanagement’: Tamil Nadu Govt
In an update, the Tamil Nadu government has announced that the patients who had been hospitalised, have been discharged. The state government has also claimed that no deaths were caused due to the crowd or mismanagement.
Chennai Air Show Tragedy: Death Toll Reaches 6
A spectacular aerial display of the Indian Air Force aircraft over the skies of Marina Beach in Chennai was a big draw here on Sunday, but at least six persons, who were among thousands of spectators, died due to causes including extreme exhaustion.
To witness the event, thousands of people stood in the scorching sun for atleast 2 to 3 hours and a lot of them held umbrellas to shield themselves. Though the air show was held between 11 am to 1 pm, most people gathered at the venue at least an hour before. Several persons fainted and emergency workers carried them in stretches and provided care in shelters. Over 30 people were rushed to nearby government hospitals with symptoms of dehydration.
Following the event, arterial roads, especially those close to the beach area, were fully choked and local trains, including the MRTS and Metro, besides buses, were jampacked. The bus stop at Anna Square, in close proximity to the display venue, overflowed with people. In view of traffic restrictions, people had to walk a considerable distance to catch buses or reach train stations.
Though a stampede-like situation emerged for a while when thousands tried to exit the venue at the same time, police said they successfully regulated the crowd and made safe passage for ambulances.
