A record-breaking crowd gathered at Chennai’s Marina Seashore for Sunday’s air present after an unprecedented response to the occasion on social media, however insufficient planning turned the occasion right into a tragedy that left 5 useless and over 100 hospitalised, sources within the Tamil Nadu authorities and Indian Air Drive (IAF) stated.
Round 12-13 lakh individuals, together with many from neighbouring districts, flocked to witness the IAF air present held to commemorate its 92nd anniversary. The huge crowd overwhelmed town’s infrastructure, resulting in the tragedy, in keeping with officers.
On Monday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Okay Stalin promised higher preparations for future large-scale occasions. Whereas prime authorities stated it was efficient planning that prevented a possible stampede, the shortage of an exit technique and the hurried rush of individuals to depart the venue led to chaos, officers stated.
In his assertion on Monday, Stalin accepted that whereas “stampedes had been prevented, individuals confronted hardships in reaching their autos and getting public transport”.
“Further consideration can be accorded to those points when such occasions are organised subsequent time,” the CM stated. He additionally introduced Rs 5 lakh compensation for households of the deceased.
Stalin’s assertion stated the federal government had made preparations past the mandatory administrative cooperation and that police, hearth and rescue companies, the Higher Chennai Company, and the Well being Division had all coordinated to make the gang administration efficient.
What went flawed?
Organisers and native authorities cite two causes for the tragedy – large pleasure on social media that introduced in large numbers, and poor planning concerning the dispersal of the gang.
The air present was the primary of its sort in Chennai in over 20 years, and whereas officers had initially anticipated about 11 lakh attendees, the occasion far exceeded expectations, with round 12-13 lakh individuals arriving by practice, metro, buses, and personal autos. The present, held between 11.30 am and 1 pm, turned a logistical nightmare when your complete crowd tried to depart the venue without delay.
Officers from the IAF and state authorities instructed The Indian Categorical that whereas crowd management measures had been in place, nobody anticipated the huge turnout.
A senior police officer stated that over 40 ambulances, a number of medical groups, medical doctors, and site visitors diversions had been in place for the occasion. “There was applicable communication between all companies and authorities, however we didn’t have an ideal plan for dispersal of the gang,” the officer stated.
Based on a senior officer within the IAF, barricades and different crowd administration initiatives in addition to site visitors diversions prevented a stampede, however the rush of individuals leaving concurrently uncovered flaws in planning.
“Everybody, together with us and the authorities, failed when it got here to the exit plan. There ought to have been a precedence path for kids, girls, and the aged. The shortage of such planning, mixed with the general public’s hurried behaviour to depart the venue quickly after the present, created the difficulty,” the IAF officer stated.
The town’s Mass Speedy Transport System (MRTS), the city rail companies inside the metropolis, didn’t enhance the variety of companies regardless of the large gathering. Movies of 1000’s of individuals ready on the Velachery MRTS station have gone viral on social media.
The implications of the collective failures had been devastating. 5 individuals – all males – died whereas making an attempt to return house from the seaside. Greater than 100 individuals had been hospitalised attributable to warmth exhaustion, dehydration, and medical points exacerbated by the congestion.
Ambulances received caught within the gridlock, and plenty of attendees reported being stranded within the intense warmth for over an hour.
Nonetheless, Higher Chennai Metropolis Company Mayor R Priya defended the preparations they made, and attributed the deaths to excessive climate situations. “The deaths had been attributable to warmth and dehydration. We had made preparations for water, ambulances, and barricades,” she stated.
Political fallout
The political backlash on the DMK authorities was swift.
AIADMK chief and the state Opposition chief Edappadi Okay Palaniswami took intention on the Stalin administration, holding the federal government liable for the tragedy. He stated in Salem, “Lakhs of individuals gathered on the Marina (seaside) to witness the air present on Stalin’s invitation. Nonetheless, primary facilities weren’t supplied, and because of the heavy rush, 5 individuals died. This exhibits the poor administration of the federal government.”
Palaniswami criticised the shortage of foresight in crowd administration, noting that different states have efficiently carried out air exhibits with out incident.
Actor-turned-politician Vijay expressed his condolences on social media and likewise known as for improved security measures at future occasions.
“The incident by which 5 individuals misplaced their lives through the air present is painful. My deepest condolences to their households. I request the Tamil Nadu authorities to deal with efficient implementation of primary and important wants in locations the place giant crowds collect,” he posted on X.
சென்னையில் இந்திய விமானப் படை சார்பில், மெரினா கடற்கரையில் நடைபெற்ற சாகச நிகழ்ச்சியின் போது 5 பேர் உயிரிழந்த நிகழ்வு, வேதனையளிக்கிறது. அவர்களது குடும்பத்தினருக்கு என்னுடைய ஆழ்ந்த அனுதாபங்களைத் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்.
இந்நிகழ்ச்சியின் போது, அடிப்படை வசதிகள், போக்குவரத்து வசதிகள்…
— TVK Vijay (@tvkvijayhq) October 7, 2024
A senior police officer, who was on responsibility at Marina seaside on Sunday, identified that it sometimes takes an hour to clear Chepauk Stadium, close to Marina seaside, which holds 40,000 individuals, after a excessive profile cricket match.
“We had over 13 lakh individuals on the Marina on Sunday. The planning and barricades prevented a stampede, however the lack of an exit technique was our downfall,” the officer stated.
State Well being Minister Ma Subramanian confirmed that each one 5 deaths had been heat-related and warranted that measures could be taken to stop such incidents sooner or later. “5 individuals died from warmth exhaustion, and 102 others had been affected by the hovering temperatures,” he stated.