Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited the site of a tragic stampede in Karur, Tamil Nadu, on Monday, vowing that such heartbreaking events must never happen again. The deadly crush at actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally on Saturday night killed 41 people and injured over 60, sparking widespread grief and calls for better public safety at political gatherings.
Sitharaman toured the accident spot in Velayuthampalayam and spoke with injured victims in local hospitals before facing the media. She explained her trip focused on comforting the families and delivering support on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government. “The Prime Minister feels deep sorrow over this loss,” she told reporters. “I’ll update Home Minister Amit Shah on everything I saw here.”
To help the grieving families, Sitharaman announced that the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) will provide ₹2 lakh to each affected household as soon as the district shares bank details. She shared the emotional toll, noting how many families arrived shattered—some even bringing young children without food or water. “This tragedy feels unimaginably painful,” she added.
Doctors at the hospitals reassured her that the injured are getting the care they need. Sitharaman urged stronger safety measures and clear guidelines, like standard operating procedures (SOPs), to prevent future stampedes at large events in Tamil Nadu.
She steered clear of political arguments, saying, “I’m here for one reason: to pass on the Prime Minister’s message and offer real help. I won’t dive into controversies.”
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin rushed to the scene right after the incident and oversaw relief efforts. He promised new rules for political rallies once the Justice Aruna Jagadeesan Commission finishes its probe. “We’ll act based on the findings,” Stalin said, while asking people to avoid spreading false rumors about the Karur stampede.
AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami sent his condolences and stressed the need for improved crowd control to avoid such Tamil Nadu tragedies.
Vijay, the TVK chief and rally organizer, called the deaths “heart-wrenching” and pledged ₹20 lakh to each bereaved family, plus ₹2 lakh for every injured person. The chaos erupted when thousands of fans rushed toward him after his speech, leading to panic and the fatal crush.
This Karur rally stampede has fueled urgent debates on safety at political events across India, reminding everyone of the risks when crowds gather in excitement.
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