A tragic stampede at actor Vijay's rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, on Saturday, September 27, 2025, resulted in the deaths of 39 people, including women and children, and left over 50 injured. Police investigations are underway, revealing potential security lapses and triggering a blame game between political parties.
Police Findings and Lapses
According to Tamil Nadu's Director General of Police (DGP) G. Venkataraman, the primary cause of the stampede was the delayed arrival of Vijay at the rally. The event was scheduled to begin at 3 p.m., but Vijay arrived at 7:30 p.m.. This seven-hour delay caused the crowd to swell, with people waiting for hours in the scorching sun without sufficient food and water. The DGP noted that a message on the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party's Twitter account stating Vijay would arrive by 12 noon further contributed to the early build-up of the crowd.
While organizers had sought permission for approximately 10,000 attendees, the actual crowd size was closer to 27,000. Police protection was initially planned for an anticipated crowd of 20,000. The limited space and the sheer number of people created a dangerous situation, and with very little room to move, chaos and confusion ensued, triggering a stampede.
The police are also investigating possible violations of norms during the campaign event. A case has been registered against Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's (TVK) Karur West district secretary V.P. Mathiyazhagan in connection with the stampede. The case was filed under sections 109, 110, 125b, and 223 of the BNS for alleged violation of norms during the campaign event at Velysamupuram.
Eyewitness Accounts and Immediate Response
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene, with people fainting and falling in the overcrowded ground. As Vijay spoke from atop his campaign vehicle, panic spread. Vijay stopped his speech midway, threw water bottles to stricken supporters, and appealed for police assistance as the situation spiraled out of control. However, some witnesses and relatives of the victims claimed that Vijay moving through the crowd, instead of ensuring the area was safe, worsened the situation. Ambulances struggled to navigate through the dense crowd.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has ordered a Commission of Inquiry, headed by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan, to investigate the circumstances leading to the stampede. The state government has announced a solatium of ₹10 lakh to the families of those who died and ₹1 lakh for those injured. Ministers were also deputed to oversee relief and medical arrangements.
Political Reactions
The tragedy has sparked sharp political reactions, with opposition parties pointing to lapses in safety arrangements. BJP leader K. Annamalai blamed the DMK government for "gross negligence" in managing crowd safety. He also referred to reports of a power disruption during Vijay's speech, saying the lack of proper arrangements worsened the panic. Annamalai demanded a thorough investigation and compensation for the victims' families. AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami said that the stampede would not have taken place if adequate security had been provided for the TVK rally.
Aftermath
Following the incident, security was heightened at Vijay's residence in Chennai. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sought a detailed report from the Tamil Nadu government regarding the circumstances of the tragedy, the rescue arrangements, and crowd control measures.
