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“Such Incidents Have Also Happened In Temple Festivals,” Says DMK Leader TKS Elangovan On Marina Air Show Tragedy

The Commune
DMK Leader TKS Elangovan blames IAF for Chennai Air Show Tragedy

DMK leader TKS Elangovan blamed the Indian Air Force for the poor management at Chennai Air Show that saw at least five deaths and numerous hospitalizations. Elangovan downplayed the state’s responsibility, saying the crowd was unexpectedly large and comparing it to incidents at temple festivals. He joins other DMK members, including Ma Subramaniam and Syed Hafeez, who defended the state government’s efforts while subtly pointing fingers at the IAF for mismanagement, further fueling tensions in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Mismanaged Chennai Air Show

6 October 2024 turned out to be a tragic nightmare for many in what could have been one of the most memorable days of their life. Indian Air Force celebrated Air Force Day at Chennai’s Marina Beach with a fantastic display. However, DMK members and minister along with Dravidianist journalists downplayed the tragedy which saw atleast 5 people dead and several hospitalised, and tried to pin the blame on the IAF.

The most brazen one among them was DMK leader TKS Elangovan. Speaking to ANI, he said, “People were gathered in large numbers at the Marina Beach…The event is conducted by the Indian Air Force… The crowd was unexpectedly huge which Marina could not hold… Such kinds of incidents have also happened in many temple festivals...Opposition leaders will always accuse us of anything. They will not manage anything. More than 100 people were taken to the hospital. The state government has made all the arrangements...”

Here are some statements made by other DMK members and leaders.

Ma Subramaniam

Health Minister Ma Subramaniam released a press note stating, “Full administrative cooperation of the Government of Tamil Nadu was extended to successfully conduct the Indian Air Force Air Adventure Program at Chennai. In order to properly plan and conduct the event, a coordination meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary with Indian Air Force officers and Tamil Nadu government department officials once and then several times at the departmental level. In these consultative meetings, arrangements were made with all the demands of the Air Force officers kept in mind. Two health teams, with an adequate number of doctors and nurses, have been deployed on behalf of the state government at the venue. Apart from this, medical teams were formed on behalf of the Indian Army. Also, 40 ambulances were also stationed there for emergency medical assistance. Adequate paramedical teams were also constituted. 100 beds and 65 doctors were kept ready in Government Medical College Hospitals including Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Necessary arrangements have been made for an adequate number of temporary latrines and drinking water supply at Marina Beach by the Chennai Metropolitan Corporation and the Chennai Water and Sewerage Board. 7500 security guards have been deployed for security given the possibility of a large number of people coming. For the Indian Air Force program held today in Chennai,

Tamil Nadu provided all the facilities and arrangements beyond what they requested. I would like to inform you that it has been done by the government.”

He also blamed the IAF for the reason why the event was conducted during the peak afternoon.

Syed Hafeez

Another DMK spokesperson Syed Hafeez kept justifying the deaths were not due to a stampede. Speaking to Times Now, he said, “The event was well organized. The government and the Corporation of Chennai with coordination from 4 other departments had done their best to avoid such a situation. See you have to understand, tehre was no stampede. If the state government had not organised this well, in such a manner. To completely blame the state government of mismanagement is not acceptable. See other news channels, people are praising the state government.”

Saravanan Annadurai

DMK member and advocate Saravanan Annadurai went on to blame the public for not taking adequate water bottles, caps, etc. He even questioned the health issues those who died may have had. It seemed to indicate that he was saying blaming the State government for poor arrangements is being done for political reasons. 

He wrote, “Aviation adventure and politics of jealousy! Yesterday the Indian Air Force, the adventure shows at the Marina were not properly coordinated, the trains were not running, 5 people died, and the state government should be held responsible. I also went to see the adventure, we walked 3 km, saw, walked again and reached home.

Important questions.

1. When 10 lakh people will gather, can all the vehicles be allowed to the place of adventure?

2. Can get down early and walk the last 2 or 3 km on your own.

3. Yesterday the sun was 36 degrees, walking in that sun and standing in the top sun can see this adventure. It has to go by itself with minimum progress. Hat, water, umbrella.

4. Adequate number of ambulances were available and first aid treatments were available for those who fainted in the sun.

5. Everyone has a desire to see it in person. They must have come to the event feeling that this hot environment would allow their bodies to cooperate. At least for about 3 hours, you have to walk to stand in the sun.

6. The death of 5 people is very regrettable, taking into consideration their health condition.

7. Southern Railway should explain why they are not running enough trains.

8. Is there a structure that can accommodate more than 10 lakh people in a short period of time?

9. Our guards did an excellent job, from first aid treatment to traffic regulation.

10. Majority of the people of Chennai who came to the program, enjoyed the program and left with satisfaction. They had come to the program knowing what kind of facilities would be available in such programs and how much would the facility be. It was conducted by the Union Government itself, what is their role? Those who try to portray this as some kind of administrative failure have no intention other than political jealousy.”

He went on to state that there was no stampede, so everything was fine. He wrote, “Only an autopsy will tell us how 5 people were dead? Did they have any pre existing illness, which got exacerbated while standing in the hot sun for 3 to 4 hrs. There was no stampede.”

Saravanan next went on to blame the Defence ministry because it was them who organised it in the first place! He wrote, “Show organised by Defence Ministry”

As if paying lip service, DMK MP Kanimozhi indirectly blamed the IAF for wanting to gather a large number of people. She wrote, “The news of the death of 5 people is very sad and painful when the public who witnessed the military flight adventure program held at the Marina beach in Chennai suffered from the crowd and the temperature was high. Unmanageable gatherings should also be avoided.”

Salem Dharanidharan

DMK spokie Salem Dharanidharan also blamed the IAF stating it was them who wanted to create a record and that the event was not organised by the TN government. He said, “It is unfortunate that lives were lost and it should not happen. There have been many events, full-fledged events conducted in the state where more number of people have participated. There have been fantastic arrangements. Even our party conducted the Youth Wing conference which broke the record was fantastically arranged. This is organized by the Air Force and it is not the Tamil Nadu government that wanted to create a record. People, out of their own willingness wanted to come and we made proper arrangements but I am not certain how these mishaps happened.”

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