The Chennai Air Show in India, held on October 6, attracted an impressive crowd of nearly 1.6 million attendees. Unfortunately, due to inadequate traffic planning, many faced significant hurdles in accessing drinking water at the venue. The combination of sweltering temperatures, overcrowding, and insufficient hydration led to a tragic outcome, with at least five individuals losing their lives to heat-related issues and over 230 hospitalized due to dehydration.

The event, which ran from 11 AM to 1 PM, saw many attendees arriving as early as 8 AM, enduring the relentless sun in hopes of securing a good spot near the beach area. Organized to commemorate the 92nd anniversary of the Indian Air Force, the air show garnered considerable public interest. However, Chennai police struggled with crowd control and traffic management, resulting in dire consequences.

According to reports from “Today India,” even before the show began, several elderly attendees collapsed from the heat. As the venue filled, vendors selling water were forced to leave, and many nearby restaurants shut down, rapidly exhausting the water and beverage supplies in local shops. With hydration options drastically reduced, discomfort became widespread among attendees.

After the event, as the crowd attempted to disperse, the metro system was unable to handle the overwhelming number of people, leading to severe traffic congestion and complicating the exit process. Many attendees found themselves stranded by the roadside, waiting for conditions to improve.

Despite a deployment of 6,500 officers to ensure safety during the event, reports indicated that many officers did not assist in managing crowd dispersal or facilitating ambulance exits for those requiring medical attention, only responding once public outcry began to rise.