A tragic stampede at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, has claimed 39 lives and injured dozens more, sparking widespread outrage over crowd safety. The incident happened Saturday evening during a high-energy event for actor-turned-politician Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party.
Thousands of Vijay’s supporters gathered in the scorching heat at Velusamypuram, waiting hours for the star politician to show up. With little water or food available, the crowd pushed forward when Vijay arrived late in his vehicle. Chaos erupted, leading to panic and collapses that turned deadly.
Among those who died were 13 men, 17 women, and nine children—heartbreaking losses that have shaken Tamil Nadu. Over 80 people ended up in hospitals in Karur and nearby areas, fighting for recovery.
Vijay wrapped up the rally quickly and headed back to Chennai without addressing reporters. Security kept the media at bay when he reached his home. It took nearly two hours after the death toll started climbing for him to post condolences on social media, expressing grief for the victims.
The ruling DMK government acted fast. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin sent top ministers Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and M.A. Subramanian to handle rescue efforts and medical aid. He also pledged Rs 10 lakh in compensation for each family of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for the injured.
“This is the worst tragedy at a political meeting in our state’s history,” Stalin said. He later visited Karur to comfort survivors and grieving relatives, vowing to prevent such disasters in the future.
Opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami from AIADMK rushed to Karur Government Hospital too. He met with families and slammed the lack of proper crowd control. “The government and police should have checked the numbers and set up better arrangements,” Palaniswami told reporters.
The stampede highlights growing concerns about TVK’s organization since Vijay launched the party in 2024. Critics point out that the party leans heavily on fan clubs instead of a professional team. At the rally, volunteers handed out water bottles as people fainted, but it wasn’t enough.
Police said TVK’s permit request predicted only 10,000 attendees, yet far more people flooded the site. Authorities have charged a local TVK official with safety lapses and plan to question Vijay on Sunday.
Experts say this Karur rally tragedy could derail Vijay’s hot-streak political launch. His week-long campaign tour had pulled in massive crowds across Tamil Nadu, painting him as a rising force. Now, it tests how he handles accountability and public safety in a crisis.
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