In the bustling town of Karur in Tamil Nadu, a tragic stampede at actor-turned-politician Vijay’s rally turned a day of excitement into heartbreak. The incident, which happened on Saturday evening during a gathering for his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party, has now claimed 40 lives, with many others injured. Officials confirmed the rising death toll on Sunday, highlighting overcrowding as a major factor in the chaos.
DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakanth didn’t hold back in her criticism during a press conference in Karur. She pointed fingers at the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government and Vijay himself for failing to provide basic security and crowd management. “People started showing up at the venue as early as 9 a.m., but Vijay didn’t arrive until 7 p.m.,” she said. Fans waited under the hot sun with no water, no food, and narrow passages that couldn’t handle the massive turnout. “Even the police protection was inadequate,” Premalatha added, sharing stories from injured victims about the tight spaces. She called September 27 a “black day” for Tamil Nadu and urged TVK to step up in protecting its supporters. “This shouldn’t happen again—it’s a wake-up call for everyone involved.”
The rally, meant to boost TVK’s presence ahead of future elections, quickly spiraled out of control as thousands of Vijay’s fans pushed to get closer. Panic spread, leading to fainting spells and a rush to local hospitals. Emergency teams swung into action, adding more beds and doctors to handle the surge of patients.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Karur late Saturday night. He met with the injured, honored the victims, and announced quick relief: 10 lakh rupees for each family of the deceased and 1 lakh rupees for those receiving treatment. To get to the bottom of the Tamil Nadu stampede, Stalin set up a one-member inquiry commission led by retired High Court Judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan. The panel will investigate the causes and report back soon.
Vijay, the TVK chief, expressed deep sorrow and stepped up with his own aid package—20 lakh rupees per bereaved family and 2 lakh rupees for the injured. From Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered support through the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund: 2 lakh rupees to the next of kin of each victim and 50,000 rupees for those hurt in the Karur tragedy. His office shared the news on social media, calling it an “unfortunate incident.”
As Karur mourns this devastating loss at the Vijay political rally, questions linger about safety at large public events in Tamil Nadu. Families await justice, while leaders promise better protections to prevent another such disaster.
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