Chennai, August 16, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Sunday announced financial assistance of Rs 30 lakh for the family of a police constable who died after collapsing while performing duty during the Independence Day celebrations at Fort St George.
The deceased was identified as A. Dharmaraj, 56, a Grade-I Police Constable attached to the band unit of the Tamil Nadu Special Police Regimental Centre in Avadi.
Dharmaraj was deployed for ceremonial duty during the Independence Day programme at Fort St George. He reportedly collapsed suddenly while participating in the parade, following which police personnel and officials at the venue rushed to assist him.
He was taken to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai, where doctors attempted to stabilise his condition and continued emergency treatment. However, he failed to respond and subsequently died at the hospital.
The death cast a pall of gloom over the Tamil Nadu Police, particularly among personnel of the Tamil Nadu Special Police and its regimental band unit. Dharmaraj had been assigned ceremonial duties during one of the state’s major official events.
Expressing grief over the constable’s death, Chief Minister Vijay described his passing as an irreparable loss to both his family and the police department. He acknowledged Dharmaraj’s service and commitment to duty during the Independence Day celebrations.
The Chief Minister conveyed his condolences to Dharmaraj’s family, relatives, friends and colleagues in the police department and said the state government stood with the bereaved family during the difficult period.
Vijay directed the authorities concerned to provide Rs 30 lakh in financial assistance to the constable’s family. The relief is intended to support his dependants following his sudden death.
Dharmaraj’s death also prompted an outpouring of grief among his colleagues, who mourned the loss of a fellow police personnel who died while carrying out his official responsibilities.
The Independence Day celebrations at Fort St George involve personnel from various police wings, with band units playing a key role in ceremonial proceedings, including the march-past and other official events.
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