Police in Karur, Tamil Nadu, have charged three top leaders of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party with multiple violations after a tragic stampede at actor Vijay’s rally claimed 39 lives and injured dozens more. The accused include TVK General Secretary Bussy Anand, Karur West district secretary V.P. Mathiyazhagan, and state office-bearer C.T. Nirmal Kumar. Investigators point to poor crowd control and event management as key factors in the deadly crowd crush.
The chaos erupted Saturday at a massive public meeting in Veluchamipuram, on the outskirts of Karur. Thousands of fans flocked to see Vijay, the popular actor turned politician, during his statewide tour. People had lined up since morning, but a sudden surge in the packed area sparked panic. Eyewitnesses described how dim lighting and tight spaces led to people stumbling and trampling each other in the rush.
Rescuers faced huge challenges as ambulances battled clogged roads to reach the scene. They rushed victims to Karur Government Medical College Hospital and nearby private clinics. Among the 39 dead, 27 came from Karur district itself. Two victims each hailed from Erode, Dindigul, and Tiruppur, while one was from Salem. The village of Emur in Karur took a heartbreaking hit, losing five residents: Priyadarshini and her young daughter Tharanika, Chandra, Arukkani, and 10-year-old Prithik. Dozens of others, including children, are still receiving treatment, with some in critical condition.
News of the Tamil Nadu stampede spread quickly, drawing sorrow from across India. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin all offered their condolences to the grieving families.
Stalin acted fast, flying to Karur overnight to visit the injured. He pledged Rs 10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to each family of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh to those hurt. To get to the bottom of the Vijay rally tragedy, he also launched a judicial inquiry headed by retired High Court judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan. The probe aims to pinpoint who’s responsible and suggest ways to avoid future crowd crushes at political events.
Karur City Police filed the case against the TVK leaders for ignoring safety rules, saying these lapses likely fueled the fatal incident. Officials haven’t revealed all the legal sections yet, but they expect to add more as they gather evidence and take statements from witnesses.
On Sunday, rescue and relief efforts pressed on amid calls from politicians across parties for tougher safety measures at large gatherings. Authorities plan to speed up the inquiry report, while families in Karur and nearby districts started saying final goodbyes to their loved ones lost in the Karur crowd crush.
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