Overcrowding and chaos during rally lead to tragic stampede as authorities launch investigation.
The tragic toll from the stampede that occurred during actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district has risen to 41, according to reports from The Hindu. Among the deceased, there are 18 women and nine children, highlighting the devastating impact of the incident. Authorities have confirmed the identities of all the victims, and the bodies have been returned to their grieving families.
As of Sunday, a total of 111 individuals who sustained injuries during the stampede were being treated at various government and private hospitals in Karur. The incident unfolded shortly after 7:30 PM at the Veluchamy Puram area, where Vijay, the chief of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, was addressing the crowd from his campaign vehicle. Reports indicate that the stampede was triggered by severe overcrowding, with many attendees fainting due to the conditions.
During the rally, Vijay’s speech was interrupted on two occasions as ambulances were called to assist those who had collapsed. Eyewitness accounts suggest that some supporters attempted to climb a tree for a better view, which led to one of the branches breaking. This incident caused individuals to fall onto the crowd below, igniting further chaos and panic among the attendees.
In response to the tragedy, retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan has initiated a judicial probe into the circumstances surrounding the stampede. She is leading a one-member Commission of Inquiry established by the state government to conduct a thorough investigation. Jagadeesan has already visited the site of the incident and met with officials at the Government Medical College Hospital in Karur to assess the situation firsthand.
Additionally, Chief Minister MK Stalin visited the hospital around 3:15 AM on Sunday to offer support to the injured and their families. Later that day, Edappadi K Palaniswami, the general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, also visited the hospital, expressing solidarity with those affected by the tragedy.
In the aftermath of the stampede, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has approached the Madras High Court, requesting suo motu cognizance of the incident. In their petition, the party alleges that there were “some conspiracies” at play that contributed to the disastrous outcome of the rally. They are seeking either a suo motu investigation or a probe by an independent agency to thoroughly examine the circumstances that led to the stampede.
