A massive tragedy struck Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay’s rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district on Saturday, where 36 people, including 10 children and 17 women, were killed in a stampede. Officials confirmed that more than 70 others sustained injuries and were rushed to different hospitals for treatment.
According to officials, the chaos began when some attendees fainted in a heavily crowded section of the venue, triggering panic and pushing. A letter from TVK seeking police permission surfaced, revealing that around 10,000 people were expected at the rally. Still, in reality, at least 30,000 people turned up at the site, far more than the anticipated turnout. Vijay was scheduled to address supporters after completing his earlier rally in Namakkal, but his arrival was delayed by more than six hours, during which the crowd had already swelled to uncontrollable levels.
Crowds spiralled out of control
Witnesses said the crowd began pressing forward to catch a glimpse of the actor-turned-politician, leading to suffocation due to heat and lack of space. As the situation worsened, videos showed Vijay halting his speech midway and personally throwing water bottles into the crowd in an attempt to provide some relief. In another video, he was also seen addressing concerns about missing children in the chaos.
Ambulances faced significant difficulty navigating the jammed area to reach the injured. Volunteers and police personnel struggled to form pathways, eventually creating human chains to allow for evacuation. The injured were transported to Karur District Headquarters Hospital, while others were referred to Erode and Tiruchirappalli medical colleges for specialised treatment.
Home Minister Amit Shah speaks to CM Stalin, probe launched
Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, while the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked the state government to submit a detailed report on the incident. Stalin expressed deep shock over the loss of lives and announced the formation of a one-member judicial inquiry commission to investigate the circumstances. The panel will be headed by a retired high court judge.
“I have ordered an ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident, and Rs 1 lakh for those undergoing intensive treatment in hospitals,” Mr Stalin said in an official statement. The Chief Minister also indicated that he would personally travel to Karur to meet the affected families.
Stalin eralier dispatched his miniseters to Karur to deal with the situation later himself left for the district.
President Murmu, PM Modi condoles loss of lives
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi reacted to the tragedy with a message of condolence, calling the events "deeply saddening." "My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. Wishing strength to them in this difficult time. Praying for a swift recovery to all those injured," PM Modi wrote in a post on X.
Other political leaders across Tamil Nadu also expressed solidarity with the victims’ families, urging that accountability be fixed to prevent such incidents in the future.
'My heart is shattered': Vijay's response to stampede
Following the tragedy, Vijay travelled to Trichy airport and boarded a flight to Chennai. He avoided giving any comment to the media and concealed his face from cameras while leaving. It was only after landing in Chennai that he broke his silence on the matter.
“My heart is shattered, writhing in pain,” the actor-turned-politician said in his first statement after the tragedy, describing the incident as an unbearable loss.
This incident has now raised serious questions about crowd control and event management at political rallies in Tamil Nadu, especially given the unexpectedly massive turnout at Vijay’s event.
