The recent Air Force air show held at Chennai’s Marina Beach faced chaos and mismanagement, prompting strong criticism from AIADMK leader Kovai Sathyan. He firmly stated, “When you have an incompetent person as your chief minister, his council of ministers will also be incompetent”.
Moreover, Sathyan emphasized that given the leadership, the situation was predictable. He highlighted the stark contrast between officials’ experiences and that of the public. “While MK Stalin and his family enjoyed the show in their air-conditioned makeshift setup, the public had to walk 5-10 kilometers to view the air show”.
Additionally, there was no public address system to guide attendees. The absence of booths providing water or medical assistance further exacerbated the situation. Lastly, a clear lack of traffic management was evident.
The chaos escalated as Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian confirmed that five people lost their lives due to severe heat conditions during the event.
Furthermore, a total of 102 individuals suffered from the soaring heat, with 93 requiring hospitalization. Tragically, five individuals arrived at hospitals already deceased. Specifically, two were taken to Omandurar General Hospital, two to Royapettah General Hospital, and one to Rajiv Gandhi Hospital.
Fortunately, Ma Subramanian later noted that the situation has improved. As of now, only seven patients remain hospitalized: four at Omandurar Hospital, two at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, and one at Royapettah Hospital.
In addition, he mentioned that precautionary measures had been communicated in advance of the event. This raises critical questions about the effectiveness of those measures.
Initially meant to be a spectacular display, the air show instead turned into a scene of distress for many attendees. This incident revealed significant gaps in event management and public safety.
With more than 200 individuals injured and requiring treatment, the event serves as a sobering reminder. It underscores the importance of adequate planning and foresight in managing large gatherings.
As discussions continue about the government‘s handling of the event, one thing remains clear: the tragedy at the IAF air show has sparked a much-needed dialogue about accountability and effective governance in Tamil Nadu.
Kolkata: On Friday, January 10, 2026, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha members demonstrated against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her actions after the ED raids at the I-PAC office and its chief Pratik Jain's home. | In relation to an alleged coal smuggling case that stretches back a few years, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) office and Pratik Jain's home on Loudon Street in Kolkata on Thursday, January 8, 2025. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a protest against the ED raids on I-PAC after the raid set off a political storm in the state. Why is a chief minister endorsing Pratik Jain, and who is he? Pratik Jain, a political strategist and co-founder of I-PAC, is a graduate of IIT Bombay. He is credited with helping I-PAC grow into one of the most significant political consulting organizations in India. I-PAC was established in 2015 and offers services like data-driven campaign management, support for governance, and voter outreach initiatives. It has collaborated with a number of Indian political groups throughout the years, notably West Bengal's Trinamool Congress (TMC). I-PAC reportedly collaborates closely with Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, and his office. The company oversees the IT and media division of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and is in charge of creating its election campaigns. Mr. Jain was in charge of the Trinamool Congress's IT cell, according to Ms. Banerjee. According to his LinkedIn page, Jain, an engineering graduate from IIT Bombay, started his career as an analyst at the consulting firm Deloitte. He was one of the first members of Citizens of Accountable Governance, which later evolved into I-PAC. Arvind Kejriwal, M.K. Stalin, Jaganmohan Reddy, Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi, and Nitish Kumar are just a few of the prominent figures with whom the political consultancy firm has collaborated.…
Says ‘I-PAC Attack Feels Like Rebirth: West Bengal CM leads Kolkata rally against ED raids…
Legislative Assembly elections are expected to be held in Assam in March–April 2026 to elect 126 members of the Assam Legislative Assembly.…
Chief Minister Home Affairs General Administration Cabinet Secretariat Vigilance Election Other departments not allotted to…
The Parliament passed the Waqf (Alteration) Bill, 2024 in the early hours of Friday after the…
The Waqf Bill Was a topic of major debate in India, Creating discussions about property…