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Dravidian Model Crowd Management: The Colossal Mess At Chennai Air Show That Led To 5 Deaths And 90+ Hospitalizations

The Commune

The much-anticipated Air Show at Chennai’s Marina Beach, intended to be a memorable event for millions, turned into a nightmare due to the negligence of the DMK government in Tamil Nadu. While the Indian Air Force delivered a flawless performance, the mismanagement before and after the show caused widespread disorder. As of 11:30 PM, five lives were lost, and over 90 people were hospitalized.

Despite knowing that over 1.5 million people would attend the October 6 event, the Chennai City and Traffic Police failed to prepare for the large turnout, with inadequate crowd management for smooth entry and exit. The public was encouraged to use public transport, but the Metro and Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), operated by Indian Railways, didn’t run trains frequently enough to accommodate the crowd. Viral videos showed overcrowded stations with people struggling to cope.

City buses also faced similar issues, leaving many to walk long distances in extreme heat. The situation worsened after the Air Show, as thousands flooded the main road near Marina Beach, where local authorities failed to implement crowd control measures. The crowd, composed mainly of families and children, had already endured hours of heat and humidity, and the lack of transportation options forced them to walk kilometers in unbearable conditions.

VIP vehicles clogged the roads, making it impossible for the public to navigate, while ambulances struggled to reach those suffering from dehydration and exhaustion.

Thousands sat along footpaths, too exhausted to continue, as it took more than three hours to clear the roads. This massive mismanagement caused significant public distress, leading to widespread criticism from Chennai residents.

Here are some snapshots of the colossal failure of the DMK government in handling the crowd.

This is not the first time that the Chennai Police have failed to control the crowd and make proper arrangements.

Film music composer AR Rahman’s Marakkuma Nenjam (Will the heart forget?) concert at Paniyur, outside of Chennai, on 10 September 2023 turned out to be a nightmare for the fans. The concert was scheduled to begin at 7 PM. Many of them were said to have been caught in traffic jams for more than 4 hours. Despite indications of traffic buildup, the police appeared unresponsive to the situation, leading to severe traffic congestion.

There was no proper parking at the venue and many were found returning home after the arduous 4-5 hour journey to the concert venue. Several attendees told news media that they parked their cars on the way and walked nearly 3km to reach the venue because of the traffic and no parking availability at the premises.

Inside the venue, attendees faced life-threatening situations due to the lack of crowd control. Many who managed to enter were met with suffocation and cramped spaces, causing them to exit immediately. However, the congestion continued outside, and the police and event managers remained uninvolved.

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