Chennai air show tragedy: What can we do to avoid turning large gatherings into potential death pits

The Chennai air show on October 6, 2024 hosted at the Marina Beach during the hottest hours of the day was meant to celebrate the Indian Air Force’s 92nd anniversary. However, for the 15 lakh people in attendance — and the five victims that died — the event turned out to be something of a disaster.

With the mercury touching an uncomfortable 36°C, overcrowding and the resultant poor crowd management, those attending the Chennai air show found themselves in the midst of pandemonium. If the sheer number of people and alleged lack of sufficient drinking water during the event were not enough, the lack of medical assistance and proper exit routes surely managed to exacerbate an already chaotic situation.

What went wrong?

While the severe congestion, dehydration and heat exhaustion were certainly causes for discomfort, attendees could not have guessed the serious consequences during the show. By the end of it, however, things started to take a turn for the worse.

The problems arose when thousands attempted to leave the venue simultaneously, leading to gridlock that emergency services struggled to navigate. Ambulances were stuck in traffic, and many people fainted in the heat. The police and traffic authorities, although expecting a large crowd, were unprepared for the magnitude of people, with some spectators breaking into nearby areas like Madras University to escape the congestion.

At least five people died and nearly 100 others had to be taken to the hospital. Most of the deaths occurred when the victims were on their way back home and it wasn’t a stampede situation, a police officer clarified.

Measures taken to manage the crowd

According to State Health Minister Ma Subramanium, the two-hour air show from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. was scheduled by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to align with favourable weather conditions. The IAF advised attendees to bring umbrellas, wear caps, sunglasses, and carry water bottles.

Subramanian, responding to criticism of inadequate preparedness, stated that 4,000 beds were arranged across five government hospitals, far exceeding the IAF's request for 100 beds and 20 ICU units. Additionally, 1,000 medical personnel and 40 ambulances were stationed, with efforts made to provide basic amenities like drinking water.

However, the Indian Air Force’s reportedly “aggressive” push for the event to set a Limca Book of World Record by accumulating a lakhs of spectators obviously backfired. And it remains unclear if the Tamil Nadu government — which usually objects to mass gatherings due to security concerns — advised the Air Force against hyping the show.

Lessons learned

In any case, this tragic event highlights critical lessons for organisers and attendees of large-scale public gatherings. For future events, strict crowd control measures are essential, including staggered entry and exit points to prevent overcrowding. Providing basic amenities such as water, shaded areas, and medical facilities must be prioritised, especially in hot weather conditions.

The presence of clear signage, dedicated emergency lanes, and readily available healthcare professionals could help avert similar disasters. Coordinating with transportation services to manage post-event crowd flow is equally important, ensuring that people can exit in an orderly manner without overwhelming public transit systems.

From the attendee’s side, it’s crucial to remain calm and follow instructions from authorities in such situations. Planning ahead, such as carrying enough water, wearing protective clothing against the heat, and knowing emergency exits, could help ensure personal safety at crowded events.