Women and children among 38 dead in stampede at Vijay's Karur rally

Karur: At least 38 people, including 16 women and eight children, lost their lives, and over 60 others were injured in a stampede during a rally addressed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay on Saturday evening at Karur in Tamil Nadu. Twelve of the injured remain in critical condition, and many are undergoing treatment at Karur Government Medical College Hospital, which has been overwhelmed by casualties.

The rally, held at Velusamipuram, began around 7.20 pm. Panic broke out when a sudden power outage plunged the venue into darkness. With thousands packed into the ground, the crowd swayed and surged forward, leading to people being trampled, suffocated, and dehydrated in the crush. Officials said poor ventilation and severe overcrowding worsened the disaster.

Witnesses said Vijay immediately stopped his speech upon noticing the panic and began throwing water bottles from atop his campaign bus to help those collapsing. Fainted persons were quickly shifted to hospitals by ambulances. Following the incident, Vijay left the venue, later flying from Tiruchirappalli airport to Chennai in a private aircraft.

The Congress demanded Vijay’s arrest, while BJP leader and former IPS officer Annamalai blamed the tragedy on police lapses. Senior BJP leaders in the state avoided comments directly implicating Vijay.

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep condolences. Modi posted on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening,” and assured all possible central assistance.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin announced an ex-gratia of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹1 lakh for the injured. He also declared a judicial probe into the tragedy. Stalin is expected to visit Karur on Sunday and has instructed ministers and top officials to coordinate relief measures and ensure immediate medical care for survivors.