Around five people died at an Indian Air Force air show in Chennai, India due to hot weather.
Over 200 people were hospitalized during an Indian Air Force (IAF) air show in Chennai on Sunday. The event, held at Marina Beach to mark the IAF’s 92nd anniversary, quickly turned chaotic as thousands faced overcrowding, traffic congestion, and a lack of basic amenities in the intense heat.
AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami criticized the DMK government for its poor planning and crowd control, placing the responsibility on Chief Minister MK Stalin’s administration.
Officials from the air force did not respond immediately to requests for comments.
“Two people died while attending the air show mainly due to dehydration. They fainted due to heat and then died,” R. Alagu, a senior police officer in Chennai’s Triplicane area said.
“Worst was the exit after the event. Roads were choked…Buses got stuck too,” a software engineer said.
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The air show, organized to celebrate the air force’s 92 years, took place at Marina Beach—one of the world’s longest beaches—on a day when temperatures reached 35 degrees Celsius, according to the weather department.
The IAF air show started at 11 am and ran until 1 pm, with many spectators enduring the intense heat for hours. Several attendees, especially the elderly, fainted before the show even began. Emergency responders transported over 200 individuals to nearby government hospitals due to dehydration and heat exhaustion symptoms.
