Four dead, 96 Hospitalized due to suffocation during IAF air show in Chennai
Chennai: At least four people died due to suffocation and over 200 others fainted during an Indian Air Force (IAF) air show at Marina Beach in Chennai on Sunday. The event was organized to mark the 92nd anniversary of the IAF, which was established in 1932.
The incident occurred as thousands gathered at the beach to witness the air show. Due to large crowds and inadequate management, many attendees began to experience suffocation under the intense heat. As a result, 230 individuals fainted, out of which 96 were admitted to a nearby hospital.
A senior police official stated that the situation on the ground was nearly stampede-like, compounded by the high temperatures. Medical teams attended to those affected at a government facility.
The event led to severe traffic congestion around the Marina Beach area, which was only cleared three hours after the air show ended at 1 PM.
The air show featured displays by the Special Garud Force commandos in a simulated rescue operation, along with performances by the Sarang helicopter display team and the Surya Kiran team.
This was the third time the IAF hosted its air show outside the national capital, and the first time in South India. Last year, the event was held in Prayagraj, and in 2022, it took place in Chandigarh.
This year's theme for the Air Force Day, which will be observed on October 8, was ‘Bhartiya Vayu Sena - Saksham, Sashakt, Atmanirbhar’ (Potent, Powerful, and Self-reliant).
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BCI urges CJI to take action against Andhra HC judge for sending young lawyer to 24-hour custody
New Delhi (PTI): The Bar Council of India on Wednesday sought the urgent intervention of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant following a "deeply disturbing" incident where a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court reportedly sent a young advocate to
24-hour judicial custody over a procedural lapse.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairperson and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, in a formal representation, termed the conduct of Justice Tarlada Rajasekhar Rao "grossly inappropriate" and "damaging to the confidence of the Bar".
“I most respectfully request your Lordship to kindly take immediate institutional cognizance of the matter and call for the video recording of the proceedings, the order passed, and the surrounding circumstances.
“I further request that appropriate administrative action may kindly be considered, including withdrawal of judicial work from the learned Judge pending review, his immediate transfer to some far off High Court, and his nomination for appropriate judicial training/orientation on court management, judicial temperament, Bar-Bench relations, and proportional exercise of contempt/judicial authority,” Mishra wrote.
This representation is made to preserve the “dignity, moral authority and public confidence of the judiciary”, he said, adding, “Judges command the highest respect not by fear, but by fairness, patience, restraint and constitutional humility”.
The communication urged the CJI to intervene at the earliest to ensure that the faith of Bar, particularly young advocates, in the protective and corrective role of the judiciary is restored.
The controversy stems from proceedings on May 5.
According to the BCI, a video circulating online shows Justice Rao rebuking a young advocate who was unable to produce a specific order copy during a hearing.
The letter said that despite the advocate "repeatedly seeking pardon and mercy" and claiming he was in physical pain, the judge remained "unmoved".
The judge allegedly told the lawyer, "now you will learn," and mocked his experience before directing the Registrar and police personnel to take him into custody for 24 hours.
The BCI chairperson said that the judge’s actions lacked proportionality and fairness.
"The dignity of the court is not enhanced when a lawyer is made to beg for grace in open court and is still sent to custody for a procedural lapse," the letter said.
"A young lawyer... is an officer of the Court, still learning, still growing, and entitled to correction without humiliation," it added.
The bar body said that such actions create a "chilling effect" on the legal fraternity, particularly among junior members, and undermine the mutual respect required between the Bench and the Bar.
