Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay expressed condolences for the five tragic deaths during the Indian Air Force air show in Chennai but refrained from criticizing the DMK government’s handling of the event, despite widespread complaints of their mismanagement. Among those who died was TVK cadre Karthikeyan, whose family raised questions over the lack of basic amenities and chaotic conditions at the Chennai air show, which drew millions.
Despite the loss, Vijay remains focused on organizing a large-scale conference later this month, sparking criticism over his silence on the government’s failure.
Chennai Air Show Turns Fatal
The air show was a fantastic exhibit of our Indian Air Force’s might on 6 October 2024 for the 92nd IAF Day celebrations in Chennai at Marina Beach. Spectators faced extreme overcrowding, traffic jams, and a lack of basic amenities, all under the intense heat. However, tragedy struck and 5 people died owing to the heat and mismanagement by the ruling DMK government. Mayor Priya blamed the heat for the deaths.
TVK Cadre Dies, Family Suffers Post-Mortem Ordeal
Among the 5 people who died was Karthikeyan, a TVK member.
34-year-old Karthikeyan visited Chennai Marina Beach with his family that fateful Sunday to witness the Indian Air Force’s aerobatic display. A resident of Thiruvotriyur, he worked as an admin at a private logistics company. The TVK cadre was among the millions who gathered to witness the air show, which also aimed to create a Limca Book of Records for the largest public gathering at an event.
His wife, Sivaranjani, recounted the chaos that unfolded after the airshow. As the event ended and crowds surged toward the exit, Karthikeyan left her and their two-year-old son at a bus stop to retrieve their bike parked a kilometer away. He made his way to Nappier Bridge, connecting Fort St. George with Marina Beach, but never returned.
“He went to get his bike. I couldn’t contact him because the phones weren’t working. I waited for two hours, repeatedly calling, and then, around 3:15 PM, someone finally answered. They told me he had collapsed and urged me to come quickly,” Sivaranjani told India Today.
She rushed to the location, only to find Karthikeyan lying unresponsive. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance, but upon arrival, he was declared dead. “I don’t know what happened to him for two hours. Who is responsible for this?” Sivaranjani tearfully questioned.
Her ordeal didn’t end there. While waiting at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital to retrieve her husband’s body, she was informed that the ‘cause of death’ could not be determined. Refusing to accept the body without an explanation, Sivaranjani sought answers. However, authorities proceeded to take the signature of one of her distant relatives and loaded Karthikeyan’s body into an ambulance.
“I don’t know what’s happening. Neither I nor Karthikeyan’s mother signed the papers,” a distraught Sivaranjani said, rushing to follow the ambulance transporting her husband’s body.
Karthikeyan, 34, was among the millions of people who turned up to witness the airshow at Marina Beach in #Chennai with his family. After the show ended, he left his son and wife to get his bike but never returned.#ChennaiAirShow | @PramodMadhav6 https://t.co/SggiiymIjP
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) October 7, 2024
It later came to light that Karthikeyan was a TVK cadre.
Karthikeyan was a member of @tvkvijayhq party..@tvkvijayhq https://t.co/EHkSo11ZWV pic.twitter.com/0KA4ZvMqLA
— Pramod Madhav (@PramodMadhav6) October 8, 2024
Vijay’s Soft Message For DMK Govt
Condoling the mishap and the deaths, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader, actor-turned-part-time politician Vijay wrote on the official X handle, “The incident in which 5 people lost their lives during an adventure program organized by the Indian Air Force at the Marina beach in Chennai is painful. My deepest condolences to their families. During the event, there were reports in the media that the public did not pay enough attention to basic facilities, transport facilities and security, etc., and expressed their anguish. I request the Tamil Nadu government to focus on effectively implementing facilities and security for basic and essential needs in places where people gather in large numbers.”
சென்னையில் இந்திய விமானப் படை சார்பில், மெரினா கடற்கரையில் நடைபெற்ற சாகச நிகழ்ச்சியின் போது 5 பேர் உயிரிழந்த நிகழ்வு, வேதனையளிக்கிறது. அவர்களது குடும்பத்தினருக்கு என்னுடைய ஆழ்ந்த அனுதாபங்களைத் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்.
இந்நிகழ்ச்சியின் போது, அடிப்படை வசதிகள், போக்குவரத்து வசதிகள்…
— TVK Vijay (@tvkvijayhq) October 7, 2024
Despite losing a member of his party, Vijay has not shown any such reaction or questioned the failure of the DMK government to conduct an event of this scale properly. It is noteworthy that Vijay plans to conduct a similar-scale conference in Vikravandi later this month.
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