The death toll from the stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam rally in Karur rose to 40 on September 28, prompting him to approach the Madras high court’s Madurai bench seeking a CBI or independent investigation. Over 60 persons were hospitalised, at least two of who were in critical condition. The youngest victim was a two-year-old boy. Others included a 28-year-old woman and her two daughters, both under 10, and a 24-year-old couple set to marry.
Actor-politician Vijay announced that he would pay Rs. 20 lakh each to the families of the deceased, and Rs. 2 lakh for each injured. Prime minister Narendra Modi announced Rs. 2 lakh for the bereaved families, and Rs. 50,000 for the injured.
Meanwhile, the Karur police registered a case and charged TVK office-bearers with negligence. It is believed that sudden crowd displacement resulted in the stampede, exacerbated by the delayed arrival of Vijay and insufficient food and drinking water in the heat. A generator failure plunged the area into darkness, triggering panic. Fans pushed forward to catch a glimpse of Vijay when he arrived many hours late. A collapsed shop roof and a missing child intensified the chaos. By the time Vijay began speaking, several people lay unconscious.