A stampede at a rally of actor-politician Vijay’s newly-formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party on the night of September 27 at Karur resulted in the death of at least 38 persons, including 16 women and 10 children. Over 40 others were injured and had to be rushed to hospital.
The disaster is one of Tamil Nadu’s worst stampedes in decades. The surge took place on a 2-km. stretch of the Karur-Erode highway where thousands of supporters of Vijay had gathered since morning to welcome him.
Chief minister M.K. Stalin said that the “priceless loss of lives has shaken the hearts of all of us” and he ordered a probe headed by retired judge Aruna Jagatheesan. He announced Rs. 10 lakh compensation to families of the dead, and Rs. 1 lakh for the injured. President Droupadi Murmu said, she was anguished to know about the tragic loss of lives and prayed for the injured. PM Narendra Modi called it “deeply saddening”.
Onlookers said, everything was normal until Vijay came to the venue, at least 7-8 hours late. Suddenly, the floodlights connected to a generator turned off. Then, one woman shouted about her missing child, and panic swept through. The crowd bolted. People were trampled upon and got stuck under vehicles as others tried to escape.
Vijay appealed to the police from atop the vehicle to restore order after a public announcement about a missing nine-year-old girl was made. The star-politician later posted on X, “I am shattered. I feel unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow that words cannot express. I extend my deepest condolences and sympathies to families of my dear brothers and sisters who lost their lives in Karur. I pray for the speedy recovery of those receiving treatment in the hospital. “
