Tragedy at Actor Vijay's TVK Rally in Karur—39 Dead in Stampede

 

BREAKING NEWS: Tragedy at Actor Vijay's TVK Rally in Karur—39 Dead in Stampede

KARUR (Tamil Nadu), September 28, 2025 — A massive political rally held by actor-turned-politician Vijay (Thalapathy Vijay) and his party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), at Veluswamypuram in Karur, Tamil Nadu, on Saturday evening (September 27, 2025) turned into a devastating tragedy. At least 39 people—including 10 children and 17 women—were killed, and over 80 were injured in a massive stampede or crowd crush incident.

The Karur Incident: Anatomy of a Tragedy

The event, a key stop on Actor Vijay's statewide political tour, drew a crowd estimated between 50,000 to 60,000, significantly exceeding the expected 10,000 attendees, leading to dangerous overcrowding at the designated venue.

The tragedy unfolded around 7:40 p.m. IST, following a significant delay in Vijay’s arrival. The crush began when a sudden and massive surge of the crowd pushed towards the stage barricades to catch a glimpse of the TVK chief as he began his speech.

Key Triggers and Factors:

·        Massive Overcrowding: The surge in attendance overwhelmed the venue's capacity and security arrangements.

·        Late Arrival: Vijay arrived nearly six hours late, causing the crowd to swell under the heat for hours, with many suffering from dehydration and a lack of drinking water.

·        Panic: Eyewitness accounts suggest the panic was triggered by a combination of a sudden power outage, a lost-child announcement over the public address system, and police efforts to control the unruly crowd.

·        Poor Management: The event was widely criticized for being highly disorganized, with inadequate crowd control measures, blocked exits, and poor medical preparedness for an event of such scale.

Casualties and Government Response

The victims, many of whom died from suffocation and crush injuries, were rushed to the Karur Government Medical College Hospital.

Casualty Count:

·        Deceased: 39 (including 10 children and 17 women)

·        Injured: Over 80 hospitalized

Official Relief and Inquiry:

·        Chief Minister M.K. Stalin (DMK): CM Stalin expressed deep shock and grief, visited the injured, and announced:

o   Ex-Gratia: ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹1 lakh for the injured.

o   Inquiry: A one-member Commission of Inquiry, headed by retired High Court Judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, has been ordered to probe the incident.

·        Actor Vijay (TVK): Vijay stated his heart was "shattered" by the loss and announced a separate, higher compensation:

o   Solatium: ₹20 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹2 lakh for the injured.

Political and Legal Fallout

The tragedy has sparked a political firestorm in Tamil Nadu. The ruling DMK and opposition parties have exchanged sharp accusations over responsibility for the safety failures. The DMK alleges that the TVK violated crowd control guidelines, while the opposition blamed the state police and administration for "gross negligence."

Legal Action: Police in Karur have registered an FIR against the organizer and top functionaries of the TVK under charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder and endangering human life.

Emergency Information

The Karur district administration has set up an Emergency Help Centre for those seeking information on the victims:

Contact Details	Purpose
04324 - 256306	District Collectorate Emergency Control Room (Landline)
7010806322	Emergency Contact (WhatsApp)
1077	District Disaster Helpline (Toll-Free)