A tragic stampede at a political rally for actor-turned-politician Vijay in Karur, Tamil Nadu, has resulted in the deaths of at least 40 people, including children, and left over 124 injured. The incident occurred on Saturday evening during a campaign event organized by Vijay's party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), ahead of state elections scheduled for early 2026.
The rally, which drew tens of thousands of people to the Karur district, was meant to be addressed by Vijay around noon, but he arrived more than six hours late. According to S. Sabesan, a local businessman who attended the rally, the delay caused the crowd to swell and surrounding roads to become congested. Despite the presence of barricades and ropes for crowd management, the sheer size of the gathering made it difficult to control.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the chaos unfolded around 7:30 p.m.. Some reports indicate that supporters who had climbed a tree to get a better view fell onto the crowd below, triggering the stampede. Other accounts mention that as Vijay was leaving, his vehicle started moving, causing his fans and supporters to chase after him, resulting in a commotion. Ma Subramanian, Tamil Nadu's health minister, pointed to "indiscipline" at the rally as a contributing factor.
The aftermath of the stampede was grim, with many victims being rushed to hospitals in Karur and Trichy. Health Minister Ma Subramanian confirmed that 36 people were dead upon arrival at the hospital on Saturday night, and four more succumbed to their injuries later. Among the deceased were nine children. According to the health secretary, the deceased included 17 women, 14 men, 4 male children, and 5 female children. Post-mortem examinations have been completed for 30 of the victims, and their bodies have been handed over to their families.
In the wake of the tragedy, political leaders have expressed their condolences and announced financial assistance to the victims' families. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi were among those who conveyed their sympathies. Prime Minister Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. Vijay himself has pledged ₹20 lakh to the families of the deceased and ₹2 lakh to those injured.
Local authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Police have filed a case against senior leaders of the TVK party, including Bussy Anand, Nirmal Kumar, and VP Mathiyalagan. According to a senior police official, the TVK had initially sought permission for a gathering of 10,000 people, but the actual crowd size was more than double that. Police have charged three close aides of Vijay with culpable homicide and negligence. Tamil Nadu DGP G Venkataraman noted that the crowd had been standing for hours without sufficient food and water due to Vijay's late arrival.
The incident has sparked a blame game, with various parties pointing fingers at each other. Earlier in the week, Vijay had clashed with the DMK government over restrictions on his campaign. At rallies in Ariyalur and Trichy, he accused the state of cutting electricity to his microphones and instructing him not to wave or smile too much. The BJP has demanded action against those responsible for the Karur stampede and has blamed the DMK government. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has approached the Madras High Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the incident.
The stampede at Vijay's rally serves as a stark reminder of the challenges of managing large crowds at political events and the importance of ensuring adequate safety measures. The incident has left the actor-politician "heartbroken" and "writhing" in pain.
