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At least 36 people lost their lives following a stampede at Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay’s rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur
Stampede during TVK chief Vijay’s rally | Image: X
Tragedy unfolded in Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay’s rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur on Saturday as 36 people lost their lives following a stampede. Several politicians, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister MK Stalin, expressed condolences over the shocking incident.
The actor-turned-politician was addressing a rally attended by tens of thousands of people, despite only 10,000 people being allowed to gather. The crowd soon became uncontrollable as several people, including children, fainted at the spot. Vijay promptly stopped his speech and distributed water to people and arranged for ambulances for people.
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At least 36 people, including eight children and 16 women, are confirmed dead after the stampede, and more than 60 people were hospitalised, according to Tamil Nadu ministers. Eyewitnesses and locals attributed the disaster to severe lapses in crowd control and poor arrangements.
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What Happened In Karur?
According to the information available, police permission was reportedly for only 10,000 people in Vijay’s Karur rally, but the actual turnout swelled to nearly 30,000 to 35,000. The crowd had been waiting since early morning, which added to the pressure by the afternoon. Vijay’s schedule ran over six hours late, during which time the crowd had increased uncontrollably.
Officials said restrictions and crowd-control norms were not followed, and police are now investigating a mismatch between the permitted capacity and the actual turnout. Some locals alleged that proper arrangements were not made, such as water and snacks.
High Court On Safety Lapses
The tragedy in Karur is now likely to raise doubts over police arrangements in political rallies and the accountability taken by the ruling DMK government. Notably, Vijay’s rallies have been marred by controversies, with the DMK-led administration imposing several restrictions in response to the massive crowds drawn to his rallies.
The Madras High Court had earlier warned about safety lapses at Vijay’s rallies, asking who would bear the responsibility if lives were lost. The court had ordered the Tamil Nadu government to frame uniform safety rules for political rallies of all parties.
The High Court had also suggested advanced deposits and accountability of organisers, stressing that leaders must protect women, the elderly and differently-abled citizens. The tragic incident is expected to raise questions about whether these warnings were ignored.
Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry has sought a report from the Tamil Nadu government regarding the accident. Chief Minister MK Stalin is expected to reach the area at 1 am on Sunday.
About the Author
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More
Karur, India, India
September 27, 2025, 22:29 IST
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