In a heartbreaking stampede at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, 38 people lost their lives on Saturday, including 12 men, 16 women, and 10 children—five boys and five girls. The event, organized by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and addressed by its president, popular actor Vijay, drew a massive crowd that far exceeded expectations.
Tamil Nadu’s Director General of Police, G Venkatraman, shared key details with reporters in Chennai. He explained that earlier TVK rallies had pulled in smaller groups, but this time around 27,000 people showed up—more than double the 10,000 organizers had anticipated. They had requested a large ground in Karur to handle the expected turnout, but the reality hit hard.
The trouble started with the wait. The rally permit ran from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., yet supporters began gathering as early as 11 a.m. Vijay arrived late at 7:40 p.m., leaving the crowd without enough food or water for hours under the hot sun. “That’s the reality,” Venkatraman said. He noted that over 500 police officers were on duty at the venue to keep things under control, but the sheer numbers made it tough.
Vijay himself praised the police for their efforts during the Tamil Nadu stampede but pointed out that TVK cadres need to step up on crowd management. “It doesn’t mean we deploy as many officers as the entire crowd,” Venkatraman added. Officials have launched a one-person inquiry commission to uncover what went wrong in the Karur incident, and they’re holding off on more comments until it wraps up.
In response, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin rushed to the scene. He flew from Chennai to Trichy and drove to Karur, then visited the Government Medical College and Hospital late Saturday night. There, he met families of the victims, paid tribute to those who died in the rally stampede, and checked on the injured.
Actor Vijay, deeply shaken by the tragedy at his TVK rally, posted his sorrow on X (formerly Twitter). “My heart is shattered; I am writhing in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow that words cannot express,” he wrote. He offered condolences to the families of those lost in the Karur stampede and prayed for a quick recovery for the injured receiving treatment.
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