Stampede at Vijay’s Karur rally: TN govt orders judicial probe, announces ₹10 lakh ex-gratia

Karur: The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday ordered a judicial inquiry by Justice Aruna Jagadeesan commission into the stampede at Karur during a rally organised by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which left at least 38 people dead and dozens injured. Chief Minister M K Stalin announced an ex-gratia of ₹10 lakh to the families of the deceased and ₹1 lakh to those injured. He is expected to visit Karur on Sunday and has directed ministers and senior officials to oversee relief and ensure proper medical care for the survivors. Stalin previously held a high-level meeting at the secretariat to analyse the situation. 

The tragedy struck while TVK leader and actor Vijay was addressing a massive crowd from atop his campaign vehicle on Saturday evening. A sudden power outage plunged the venue into darkness, triggering panic. With thousands packed into the grounds, people surged forward, leading to a deadly crush. Officials said overcrowding and poor ventilation worsened the situation, with most deaths caused by trampling, suffocation, and dehydration.

Witnesses said Vijay stopped his speech mid-way after noticing people collapsing, while party workers raised an alarm and rushed the fainted to nearby hospitals. Many victims, including women and children, had reportedly been waiting for hours to see him.