Karur Rally Stampede: 39 Dead at Actor Vijay’s Political Rally, Arrest Looms

A political rally held by actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party in Karur, Tamil Nadu, turned into a scene of horror after a massive stampede led to the deaths of 39 people, including 10 children and 17 women. The tragedy has sent shockwaves across the state, with mounting pressure for legal action against the event organizers and Vijay himself.

Chaos and Catastrophe

The event, part of Vijay’s third phase of state-wide campaigns, was scheduled for 12 PM but the actor’s arrival was significantly delayed. He reached the venue in Veluchamipuram only around 7 PM. By then, an enormous crowd, far exceeding the organizers’ estimates, had gathered and waited for hours in anticipation.

According to police reports, organizers had anticipated a crowd of about 10,000, but the actual turnout was closer to 27,000. The situation spiraled out of control as Vijay’s convoy navigated the dense crowd, taking nearly an hour and a half to cover just 1.5 kilometers.

The immense pressure of the surging crowd caused a temporary roof made of asbestos sheets and coconut fronds near a shop to collapse, injuring several people standing underneath. The ensuing panic triggered a devastating stampede. Dozens of people, many of them children between the ages of 6 and 12, fainted and were trampled in the chaos.

The area quickly resembled a warzone, with ambulance sirens wailing and scattered footwear littering the ground. Over 50 injured individuals were rushed to nearby private and government hospitals, but for 39 of them, it was too late. Hospitals were overwhelmed with grieving relatives as doctors struggled to save the critically injured.

Government Springs into Action

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed profound grief and immediately coordinated a massive response. He dispatched senior ministers and officials to Karur, ordering top-tier medical care for the injured and mobilizing doctors and medical staff from neighboring districts.

Later, after visiting the injured in the hospital, CM Stalin announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of each deceased person and ₹1 lakh for those seriously injured. He also announced the formation of a one-person commission of inquiry headed by retired High Court Judge Aruna Jagadeesan to investigate the incident thoroughly.

When asked by reporters if Vijay would be arrested, the Chief Minister stated, “The commission has been set up for that very purpose. It will conduct a full inquiry. I do not wish to say anything with political motives. The truth will come out through the commission, and appropriate action will be taken.”

Vijay’s Silence and Potential Arrest

Following the tragic event, Vijay concluded his speech and proceeded to Trichy airport. He avoided the waiting press and boarded a flight to Chennai without making any statement.

The incident has put Vijay in a precarious legal position. The police have reportedly filed a case against the organizers, and sources suggest that Vijay could be arrested. This speculation is fueled by a previous High Court observation stating that the party leader would be held responsible for any untoward incidents during TVK rallies. Furthermore, a precedent exists where Telugu actor Allu Arjun was arrested following a fatal stampede during a film promotion.

This tragedy stands as one of the deadliest stampedes at a political rally in India’s recent history, surpassing a 2022 incident at a rally for N. Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh where eight people died.