Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has responded to allegations from opposition parties accusing his government of mismanaging the Indian Air Force (IAF) air show held at Marina Beach, following the tragic deaths of five people. The opposition, including the AIADMK and BJP, have blamed poor planning and insufficient public safety measures for the fatalities.
In a statement on Monday, Stalin rejected the opposition’s claims, stating, “Arrangements were made to conduct the IAF Air Show at Chennai Marina. Facilities and administrative assistance were provided as per the IAF’s requirements and demand.” The air show marked the 92nd IAF Day celebration and attracted thousands of spectators to the beachfront.
Tragedy struck during the event, with five people dying due to extreme exhaustion and medical complications, including heat exposure. One person passed away at the beachfront, while four others died in nearby areas. A senior Chennai Police official confirmed that the victims were among the massive crowds gathered along the shoreline to witness the air show.
In his defense, Stalin praised the coordination efforts of various departments, including Fire and Rescue, Police, the Chennai Corporation, and the Health Department, which he credited for averting a stampede despite the large turnout. However, he acknowledged issues caused by the unexpected crowd size, noting that many spectators faced difficulties in returning to their vehicles or accessing public transportation.
“Next time, we would focus more and ensure better arrangements are in place for such large events,” Stalin promised, adding that he was deeply pained by the loss of life. He extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and announced an ex gratia payment of ₹5 lakhs to each of the victims’ families from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Opposition Alleges ‘Complete Mismanagement’
Opposition leaders were quick to criticize the government. AIADMK leader Kovai Sathyan took aim at the state administration, stating, “When you have an incompetent person as your chief minister, his counsel of ministers will also be incompetent…While MK Stalin and his family watched the show comfortably in an air-conditioned makeshift area, the people had to walk for 5-10 kilometers to witness the event. There was no public address system to guide them.”
Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai echoed similar sentiments, expressing shock over the fatalities. In a post on X, he stated, “I was shocked to hear that 5 people died due to crowding and over 200 people were injured and admitted to the hospital for treatment during the IAF Air Show held at Chennai Marina Beach.”
Annamalai blamed the deaths on the state government’s failure to ensure public safety, saying, “The DMK government did not provide basic facilities and adequate transport arrangements for the public who came to witness the air show.”
Despite these criticisms, the Tamil Nadu government remains firm in its stance that necessary arrangements were made for the event, with the chief minister vowing to improve planning for future large-scale public gatherings. The tragic incident has sparked a broader conversation about public safety at large events and the responsibilities of local governments to safeguard attendees.
Sources By Agencies
