(Representational image) A tragic incident has come to the fore where 5 have died and 100 have been hospitalized due to heatstroke . The incident happened in Chennai where thousands had gathered at the Marina Beach to watch the Indian Air Force ’s (IAF) airshow. The craze for the thrilling air display drew many spectators.
The Indian Air Force organized the Air Show at Chennai's Marina Beach ahead of the upcoming 92nd Air Force Day on October 8. On Sunday, at Marina Beach the maximum temperature touched 35 degrees Celsius (95 F), according to the weather department. According to DMK leader TKS Elangovan, 15 lakh people had gathered at the Marina Beach on Sunday.
Spectators have revealed details of the tragedy to the media. "I found it extremely difficult to take the MRTS train to Chintadripet as Velachery station was fully packed with people eager to see the air display," K Sridhar from Velachery told news agency ANI. Nevertheless, he managed to take his family of four to the Marina and back, though fully sapped of energy while commuting home.
Chandramohan, a software engineer who attended the event and uses only one name, said there was no water supply at the function despite the "hot and humid" weather and he saw people fainting due to lack of air circulation and dehydration , ANI reported. Attending crowded shows can be thrilling, but it's essential to take precautions to avoid unavoidable situations. Hydration is key in such events.
Drink plenty of water before the even.