Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Sunday announced financial assistance of Rs 30 lakh to the family of a police constable who died after collapsing while on duty during the Independence Day parade at Fort St George.

The deceased was identified as A. Dharmaraj, 56, a Grade-I Police Constable serving with the band unit of the Tamil Nadu Special Police Regimental Centre in Avadi. He was deployed for ceremonial duty at the Independence Day celebrations at Fort St George and reportedly collapsed suddenly while participating in the parade. Police personnel and officials at the venue rushed to his assistance.

He was taken immediately to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai for emergency care. Doctors tried to stabilise his condition, but he did not respond and later died at the hospital.

The incident cast a pall over the police department, particularly among personnel associated with the Tamil Nadu Special Police and its regimental band unit. Dharmaraj had been assigned an important ceremonial responsibility during one of the state’s principal official events.

Expressing sorrow over the constable’s death, Vijay said Dharmaraj’s passing was an irreparable loss not only to his family but also to the Tamil Nadu Police. He acknowledged the constable’s service and his commitment to duty during the Independence Day programme. The Chief Minister extended condolences to Dharmaraj’s family members, relatives, friends and police colleagues, and said the state government stood with the bereaved family. He directed the authorities concerned to provide Rs 30 lakh as financial relief to support the dependants following the sudden death of the family’s breadwinner.

Colleagues in the force also expressed sympathy for the loss of an officer who collapsed while carrying out official responsibilities. Band units play a significant role in the ceremonial proceedings at Fort St George, including the march-past and other events linked to the state’s Independence Day celebrations.