Chennai Air Show 2024: City Metro Records Highest Single-Day Footfall With 4 Lakh Passengers

The Chennai Air Show 2024 event, which drew over 10 lakh spectators to Marina Beach, resulted in overwhelming demand for public transportation.

During the rush hours, Metro trains were run at 3.5 minutes frequency between the section Washermanpet Metro & AG DMS Metro.

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Chennai News: Chennai witnessed a surge in public transportation usage on Sunday, as nearly 4 lakh commuters utilized the Chennai Metro Rail system to attend the Indian Air Force air show at Marina Beach. This marks the highest single-day footfall recorded by the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), with 4,00,042 passengers reported.

The event, which drew over 10 lakh spectators to Marina Beach resulted in overwhelming demand for public transportation. Many commuters flocked to the Metro to avoid traffic congestion, with stations like Government Estate, Chennai Airport, Thirumangalam, Koyambedu, and Chennai Central experiencing particularly high footfall. The crowding was especially intense in the afternoon as people began to leave the event, reported DT Next.

During that time, Metro trains were run at 3.5 mins frequency between the section Washermanpet Metro & AG DMS Metro.

Due to the massive influx of passengers at the Government Estate Metro station, Metro staff were forced to open the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) gates to manage the situation, as per The Hindu.

While the air show provided a visual treat for thousands of spectators, the event took a tragic turn as five people died reportedly due to extreme exhaustion and other health issues. A senior city police official confirmed that one person passed away at the beachfront, while four others died in nearby areas. The scorching sun, with temperatures soaring, led to severe dehydration and exhaustion for many attendees who had stood for hours to witness the air display.

Over 30 people were rushed to nearby government hospitals for treatment of dehydration and other related symptoms.

The Indian Air Force's aerial display, held between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., captivated the audience but also highlighted the challenges of crowd management and the need for more robust public health preparedness during large-scale events. Emergency workers were on hand to assist those affected by the heat, providing care and transporting several individuals to shelters and hospitals.