TVK Vijay rally stampede: Over 35 dead, several injured in stampede in Tamil Nadu's Karur

Court had cautioned govt on rally safety weeks before Tamil Nadu tragedy

At least 36 people, including eight children and 16 women, lost their lives in a stampede during actor-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay’s election rally in Karur on Saturday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday expressed deep shock over the tragic stampede at Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s rally in Karur, which claimed the lives of 36 people, including 8 children and 16 women. He said he was “heartbroken” by the loss of lives and directed that those injured receive the “best possible medical care.”

Stalin announced that families of the deceased will be given Rs 10 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund, while those undergoing intensive treatment will receive ₹1 lakh each. He has deputed the School Education Minister and the Health Minister to Karur, and sent district collectors from Trichy, Salem, and Dindigul along with medical teams to support relief efforts.

The Chief Minister said he would personally visit Karur to meet the bereaved families and those receiving treatment. He also announced the formation of a one-member Commission of Inquiry headed by retired High Court Judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan to probe the incident and submit a report to the government.

During the commotion, Vijay was heard appealing from the stage, “Police please help,” as a child reportedly appeared to go missing in the crowd.

Actor-politician and TVK chief Vijay was forced to abruptly end his speech at a heavily overcrowded rally in Karur after several people in the audience fainted and had to be taken away in ambulances.

The gathering swelled uncontrollably while Vijay was addressing supporters, leading to many, including party workers and children, collapsing on the spot. Noticing the commotion, Vijay paused his speech, threw water bottles to the crowd from atop his campaign bus, and appealed for calm.

The number of people injured and feared dead after collapsing in a stampede-like situation at Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay’s overcrowded rally in Karur continues to rise, news agency PTI reported.

Ministers, senior government officials and top police officers have rushed to the site to oversee relief and rescue operations as several persons remain in critical condition following the incident.

At least 30 people fainted and were rushed in ambulances to hospitals, officials said. "Information from Karur is worrisome," Chief Minister M K Stalin said after the hospitalisation of several people.

Ambulances struggled to make their way through the congested thoroughfare to reach those who had fainted. The affected persons were later rushed to nearby hospitals, with some reportedly in critical condition. Vijay ended his speech earlier than scheduled after assessing the gravity of the situation.

VIDEO | TVK leader Vijay pauses speech in Karur, distributes water to people, arranges for ambulance for those in the crowd feeling suffocated.

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/uCBNuilCBZ

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Acting on Chief Minister M. K. Stalin’s instructions, DMK district secretary and former minister Senthil Balaji rushed to the hospital to oversee relief measures. State Health Minister Ma Subramanian is also on his way to Karur.

In a post on X, Stalin said, “I have contacted former Minister @V_Senthilbalaji, Honorable Minister @Subramanian_Ma and the District Collector to provide immediate treatment to the public who have fainted and been admitted to the hospital due to the crowding.”

Authorities have yet to release an official statement on the final toll or the extent of injuries, and further updates are awaited.

*With Agency Inputs