Actor-turned-politician Vijay extends condolences over the death of five people at Marina Beach during the Air show.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay has expressed his condolences following the tragic death of five people at Marina Beach in Chennai due to extreme heat during an Indian Air Force air show.

In a post on X, Vijay said, "The incident in which five people lost their lives during an air show organized by the Indian Air Force at Marina Beach in Chennai is heartbreaking. My deepest condolences to their families. During the event, many expressed through the media that the government had not adequately addressed basic amenities, transportation, and security, causing distress. I urge the Tamil Nadu government to focus on improving essential facilities and security in areas where large crowds gather."

Meanwhile, Chennai Mayor Priya attributed the deaths to weather conditions, stating that the department had taken all necessary measures. 

The Mayor said, "The Tamil Nadu government had taken all precautions, but unfortunately, five deaths occurred. The event saw participation from 15 lakh people. The high temperatures and humidity in Chennai led to dehydration and fainting for some attendees. The Metro department provided water, and the state government supplied ambulances. Barricades were set up by the Chennai Corporation. The deaths were due to the heat, not any failure on the part of the departments or the IAF; it was purely the weather."

Earlier, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian confirmed that the five fatalities were due to extreme heat during the air show at Marina Beach.

"Five people lost their lives due to high temperatures. A total of 102 individuals were affected by the heat, with 93 initially requiring hospitalization. Sadly, five were brought in dead: two at Omandurar General Hospital, two at Royapet General Hospital, and one at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital," Ma Subramanian stated.

He further reported that the situation had improved, with only seven patients remaining under care—four at Omandurar Hospital, two at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, and one at Royapet Hospital.

The Health Minister also highlighted that precautions had been communicated in advance. "The IAF had advised attendees to bring umbrellas and water bottles for the show," he added.

The Indian Air Force held the air show at Chennai’s Marina Beach on Sunday ahead of the 92nd Air Force Day, scheduled for October 8.