'Unmanageable Gatherings Should Be Avoided': DMK MP Kanimozhi Reiterates Oppn's Claims

Chennai: DMK MP Kanimozhi on Monday expressed grief over the deaths of five people due to dehydration at an Air Force show in Chennai, and said that such "unmanageable gatherings should be avoided" reiterating the opposition's claim.

In a post on X, Kanimozhi said, "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."

On Sunday, October 6, at least five people died while over 220 people were hospitalised at an air show due to the combination of high temperatures and overcrowding attendees.

'Complete Failure of Administration'

Following the Air show incident, the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) launched a scathing attack on DMK, calling it a complete failure of the Stalin administration and asserted that the Chief Minister must be answerable to the public on this matter.

BJP Tamil Nadu Chief Annamalai in a post on X said, "I was shocked to hear that 5 people died due to crowding and more than 200 people were injured and admitted to the hospital for treatment during the IAF 'AIR Show' program held at Chennai Marina Beach. The only reason for this is that the DMK government has not taken care of the safety of the public without providing basic facilities and adequate transport arrangements for the public who came to witness the IAF Air Show."

He further added, "The fact that Chief Minister MK Stalin used to make arrangements for his self-promotions but he didn't make proper arrangements to a Big event like this when he knew lakhs of people would participate in it. This shows that a complete failure of his administration. The loss of 5 lives cannot be passed off as an accident. DMK government is fully responsible for this incident as it neglected even the basic arrangements."

Furthermore, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala called this incident to be a 'state-sponsored murder and not a tragedy.'

Earlier, AIADMK General Secretary Palaniswami expressed his condolences over the loss of lives in the incident and condemned the MK Stalin-led state government for failing to properly coordinate the event.

"This pains me. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. My strong condemnation of the DMK government for failing to properly coordinate even such an important event. My strong condemnation to this MK Stalin government for failing to provide proper security for this event," he said.

The Indian Air Force on Sunday, October 6 organised an Air show at Chennai's Marina Beach ahead of the upcoming 92nd Air Force Day on October 8.