The death of five spectators due to heatstroke at the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) airshow in Chennai’s Marina Beach on Sunday has triggered a political slugfest with the Opposition AIADMK and BJP alleging mismanagement on the part of the government.
While AIADMK dubbed it as a "complete mismanagement" of the Stalin government, the BJP slammed the government for "ignoring the safety of the public by failing to provide basic facilities".
However, the Tamil Nadu government has defended itself from the charges, stating that there were no deaths due to crowd or mismanagement. Government sources told ANI that there were no inpatients at Royapettah and Omandurar hospitals. "Two inpatients are in Rajiv Gandhi Hospital due to some health issues, both are stable," it added.
BREAKING : At least 3 people lost their lives, 20 seriously injured and 230 hospitalised in Stampede in Chennai. There was a stampede at the local railway station where over 1.5 million people flocked to Chennai Marina Beach to watch the Air Show. #ChennaiAirShow Prayers 🙏 pic.twitter.com/L3dtAR4Uvn
— Baba Banaras™ (@RealBababanaras) October 6, 2024
State Health Minister Ma Subramanian defended himself, stating that the government had extended full administrative cooperation to conduct the event successfully.
He added that the government held multiple coordination meetings to plan and conduct the event. The meetings were chaired by the Chief Secretary and included Indian Air Force officers and Tamil Nadu government department officials. "In these consultative meetings, arrangements were made considering all demands of the Air Force officers," he added.
Subramanian denied allegations that the government did not arrange basic medical facilities, stating that two medical teams, comprising doctors and nurses for emergency response, were arranged by the state government for the show.
This is besides the Army team, which included 40 ambulances for medical assistance and emergency response. "Required Paramedical staff were available. A total of 100 beds and 65 doctors at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital were prepared for any emergency," he clarified.
The government had deployed over 7,500 police personnel at the venue to control the crowd. There were also adequate temporary toilets and drinking water arrangements. "Tamil Nadu government made all arrangements more than what they ask for," he said.
Also read: Chennai IAF airshow: What happened at Marina beach as 5 dead, Velachery railway station crowded?
The mammoth airshow announced as part of commemorating the 92nd anniversary of the IAF saw several people fainting due to heatstroke. While 200 people passed out, over 93 needed immediate medical attention, Chennai-based media reported. Over 40 individuals were taken to the Omandurar Government Hospital in ambulances.
AIADMK leader Kovai Sathyan had lashed out at the DMK government, seeking the resignation of the Health Minister. He said children were fainting in front of his eyes and there was no public address system to guide 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," he said, calling for the minister's resignation if he "had one element of empathy and self-consciousness."
BJP state president K Annamalai too minced no words to attack the government on social media, stating the only reason this could have happened is the apathy of the government. "The only reason for this is that the DMK government has not taken care of the safety of the public without providing basic facilities and adequate transport arrangements for the public who came to witness the IAF Air Show," Annamalai said in a post on X.
