Sun Oct 06 20:51:32 UTC 2024: ## Three Die, Hundreds Hospitalized after Indian Air Force Air Show in Chennai
**Chennai, India** – Three people died and over 230 were hospitalized after attending an Indian Air Force (IAF) air show at Marina Beach in Chennai on Sunday. The deaths were attributed to dehydration and overcrowding.
The air show, celebrating the IAF’s 92nd foundation day, took place from 11 am to 1 pm. Thousands of spectators flocked to the event, overwhelming the infrastructure and leading to a near-stampede situation.
“Nearly a dozen people swooned on the Marina due to a near stampede-like situation and because of the hot weather. They were treated at a government facility,” a police officer said.
The heavy crowd also resulted in major traffic jams, particularly at the Lighthouse metro station and Velachery railway station. Many attendees reported difficulty even standing on the platform as they attempted to return home.
“I found it extremely difficult to take the MRTS train at Velachery as the station was fully packed with people eager to see the air display,” said K Sridhar, who attended the event with his family. “I managed to take my family of four to the Marina and back, though fully sapped of energy while returning home.”
Traffic around the beach was restored nearly three hours after the event concluded.
Authorities are investigating the incident and exploring ways to better manage crowd flow at future events.
First Piper 