A devastating stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, resulted in a significant loss of life and numerous injuries on Saturday. While organizers anticipated a gathering of approximately 10,000 attendees, the actual turnout was nearly triple that number, escalating into a chaotic situation. Preliminary reports indicate that the incident claimed the lives of at least 39 individuals, including nine children, with over 50 others sustaining injuries. The Director General of Police (DGP) in charge of Tamil Nadu, G Venkatraman, noted that previous rallies held by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) drew smaller crowds. He pointed out that the unexpected and substantial increase in attendance this time contributed to the crisis. Further compounding the situation, the crowd had been waiting for hours without adequate access to food and water, exacerbated by Vijay’s delayed arrival at the venue. The permission granted for the event was from 3 pm to 10 pm, yet crowds began assembling as early as 11 am. By the time Vijay arrived at 7:40 pm, the already assembled crowd had endured long wait times under difficult conditions. The DGP also mentioned that a large number of police officers were deployed at the site of the event. Meanwhile, Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed deep sorrow and stated that such a large loss of life at a political event had never occurred before in the state’s history. He announced a compensation package for the victims and their families and ordered an inquiry commission to investigate the causes of the tragedy.
