Death toll in stampede at Vijay's Tamil Nadu rally hits 36
A devastating stampede at a political rally organized by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor-politician Vijay in Karur district has claimed the lives of 36 people, including eight children and 16 women, with 46 others injured, according to official reports.
The incident has triggered a state-wide outcry over crowd management failures and raised urgent questions about political accountability and public safety protocols.
The tragedy unfolded during the “Velicham Veliyeru” (‘Let There Be Light’) event in Velusamypuram, Karur, where an estimated 30,000 supporters had gathered to hear Vijay speak. Eyewitnesses and police sources confirmed that the situation deteriorated rapidly around 7:45 p.m., when surging crowds overwhelmed barricades, leading to mass panic, trampling, and suffocation—particularly among women and children who had been brought to the event despite explicit police advisories against their attendance.
Delayed Arrival, overcrowding, and chaos
Vijay’s arrival at the venue was delayed by over six hours following his earlier rally in Namakkal. By the time he took the stage, temperatures remained high and the venue was dangerously overcrowded. Videos from the scene show Vijay halting his speech mid-address as people began collapsing from heat exhaustion and asphyxiation. In a desperate attempt to assist, he began throwing bottles of water into the crowd while pleading, “Police, please help.”
Emergency services rushed the injured to nearby hospitals, where chaotic scenes were reported as medical staff struggled to cope with the influx. Several victims remain in critical condition.
Government response and investigation ordered
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed “deep shock and sorrow” over the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter) and announced immediate relief measures: ₹10 lakh ex-gratia from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund for each deceased victim’s family, and ₹1 lakh for those undergoing intensive care.
Stalin, who is scheduled to visit Karur later tonight, has ordered a high-level inquiry into the stampede, appointing retired Madras High Court judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan to lead a one-member commission. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also sought a detailed report from the Tamil Nadu government.
History of crowd control issues
This is not the first time Vijay’s rallies have drawn scrutiny. His debut political rally in Tiruchirappalli earlier this month caused a six-hour citywide traffic gridlock after supporters mobbed his convoy—a scene that prompted the Madras High Court to issue stern warnings about public safety.
In response to prior incidents, police had imposed 23 specific conditions for TVK rallies, including prohibitions on public receptions, convoy escorts, and explicit advisories urging vulnerable groups—including pregnant women, the elderly, and children—not to attend in person. Despite these directives, large numbers of families with infants and minors were present in Karur, and many rally conditions were reportedly flouted by enthusiastic supporters.
During a recent hearing on TVK’s petition challenging the rally restrictions, Justice N. Sathish Kumar of the Madras High Court had questioned, “If something untoward had happened, who would take responsibility? As party president, Vijay ought to control the crowds.”
Accountability under scrutiny
The Karur tragedy has intensified calls for accountability—not only from the TVK leadership but also from law enforcement agencies tasked with maintaining order. Critics are questioning whether the prolonged delay in Vijay’s arrival was a strategic move to amplify turnout, and whether adequate contingency plans were in place despite clear warning signs from previous events.
Following the incident, Vijay departed Karur for Chennai via Tiruchirappalli airport, declining to speak to the media and shielding his face from cameras.
As Tamil Nadu mourns one of its worst political rally disasters in recent memory, the state now faces a reckoning over the balance between democratic expression, celebrity-driven politics, and the fundamental duty to protect public safety.
Source: NDTV