20 feared dead in stampede at Vijay-led TVK rally in Tamil Nadu
A devastating stampede at a rally organised by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay in Karur district, Tamil Nadu, has left at least 10 people confirmed dead and another 10 feared deceased, with several among the victims believed to be children.
According to police sources, the tragedy occurred when a surge of people rushed forward at a crowded entry point, causing panic and leading to multiple collapses. “Some individuals fainted in the crush, triggering a chain reaction,” an officer told NDTV.
The rally, held at a venue where Vijay was scheduled to address supporters after an earlier event in Namakkal, saw an estimated 30,000 people gather. However, his arrival was delayed by more than six hours, during which crowds continued to swell beyond capacity, overwhelming security arrangements.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin expressed deep distress over the incident in a post on X. “The reports from Karur are heartbreaking,” he wrote. “I have ordered immediate medical care for all those affected and directed the Health Minister, District Collector, and former minister Senthil Balaji to provide on-the-ground assistance. ADGP has been tasked with restoring order, and Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi is coordinating relief on a war footing. I urge the public to cooperate with law enforcement.”
This is not the first time a Vijay-led rally has drawn criticism for poor crowd management. His inaugural political rally in Tiruchirappalli earlier this month caused massive disruptions, with supporters lining the streets from the airport to the venue—turning a 20-minute drive into a six-hour procession that paralysed the city.
In response to such incidents, police had imposed 23 specific conditions for TVK rallies, including prohibitions on public receptions, convoy joining, and strong advisories urging pregnant women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities to avoid attending in person. Despite Vijay’s repeated public appeals for compliance, many supporters disregarded these directives, bringing infants and young children to the events.
The Madras High Court had previously raised serious concerns about public safety during TVK gatherings. While hearing a petition filed by the party challenging what it called “unreasonable and unfulfillable” police conditions, Justice N. Sathish Kumar pointed to the chaos at the Tiruchi rally on 13 September and questioned, “If something untoward had happened, who would take responsibility? As party president, Vijay has a duty to manage his supporters.”
The Karur tragedy has now intensified scrutiny on both the TVK leadership’s accountability and the adequacy of law enforcement preparedness. Questions are mounting over whether the prolonged delay in Vijay’s arrival—reportedly intended to demonstrate mass appeal—contributed to the dangerous overcrowding, and whether authorities acted sufficiently on clear warning signs from previous events.
As rescue and identification operations continue, calls are growing for a thorough inquiry into the circumstances that led to one of Tamil Nadu’s worst political rally disasters in recent years.