Tragedy at Karur Rally: Stampede During Vijay’s TVK Campaign Claims 36 Lives, Including 8 Children; Probe Ordered Amid Outrage
Karur/Chennai, September 27, 2025 – A festive political rally organized by actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Karur turned catastrophic on Saturday evening, as a massive stampede claimed the lives of 36 people, including eight children and 16 women, and left over 50 others injured. The disaster, which unfolded around 7:30 PM at Veluchamipuram grounds on the Karur-Erode highway, has plunged Tamil Nadu into mourning and sparked a firestorm of criticism over inadequate safety measures at the high-profile event. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has ordered a high-level inquiry, announced Rs 10 lakh compensation for victims’ families, and deployed senior officials to manage relief efforts as public outrage mounts over the preventable tragedy.The rally, part of Vijay’s “Velicham Veliyeru” (Let There Be Light) campaign to build momentum for TVK’s 2026 Assembly election bid, drew an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 supporters—far exceeding the permitted capacity of 10,000 as stipulated in the police clearance.
The event, intended to showcase TVK’s vision of social justice and anti-corruption reforms, instead became a grim reminder of the perils of poorly managed mass gatherings, with calls for accountability now threatening to overshadow Vijay’s nascent political journey.
A Night of Chaos: How the Tragedy Unfolded
The rally, held in an open field spanning 1.20 lakh square feet, began swelling with crowds as early as noon, with thousands of Vijay’s ardent fans—many from rural areas—braving intense heat and humidity to hear the “Thalapathy” speak.
Vijay, arriving around 7 PM atop a campaign vehicle, launched into a fiery speech criticizing dynastic politics and promising a “people’s government” within six months.However, the tightly packed crowd, lacking sufficient entry/exit points and buffer zones around the stage, grew restless as temperatures soared and water shortages triggered fainting spells.
The situation spiraled when reports of a missing nine-year-old girl surfaced mid-speech, prompting Vijay to pause and appeal for calm, shouting, “Please, police, find the child!” while distributing water bottles to the crowd.
The announcement triggered panic, with sections of the crowd surging forward, leading to a deadly crush. Eyewitnesses described a “human wave” trampling those who fell, as ambulances struggled to reach the site through narrow access roads.
By 8 PM, the rally was halted, and police, supported by Rapid Action Force units, cleared the venue amid scenes of chaos and grief.
Karur Government Hospital, alongside facilities in Erode and Trichy, reported 36 deaths by 10 PM, with victims succumbing to asphyxiation, heatstroke, and crush injuries.
Among the deceased were eight children aged 5-12, 16 women—many homemakers inspired by Vijay’s pro-women rhetoric—and nine men, including local TVK volunteers.Over 50 injured remain under treatment, with 24 doctors from Trichy and 20 from Salem deployed to assist.
The missing girl remains untraced, with search operations ongoing.<grok:render type A senior police official blamed the disaster on “gross violations” of safety protocols, noting that TVK organizers ignored warnings to relocate to a larger venue and failed to provide adequate medical stations or crowd control barriers.
“The crowd was five to ten times the permitted limit. This was a disaster waiting to happen,” the official told reporters.
Government Springs into Action
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, addressing the state from Chennai, expressed profound sorrow and ordered immediate relief measures. “This tragedy is heart-wrenching. We stand with the families,” he said, announcing Rs 10 lakh ex gratia for each victim’s kin from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Stalin dispatched Health Minister Ma. Subramanian, former Minister V. Senthil Balaji, and Karur District Collector to oversee rescue and treatment efforts, with plans to visit the site and hospitals on Sunday.
A one-member Commission of Inquiry, led by retired Madras High Court Judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, was constituted to probe lapses within 60 days, focusing on crowd management failures and organizer accountability.
The Union Home Ministry has demanded a detailed report, hinting at potential national guidelines for political rallies.Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi called the loss “heartbreaking,” while PMK’s Anbumani Ramadoss urged a comprehensive investigation.
Vijay’s Response and Political Ramifications
Vijay, who attempted to aid victims by distributing water and halting his speech, faced backlash for leaving Karur via a chartered flight to Chennai without visiting affected families.TVK released a statement expressing “deepest condolences” and pledging support, but critics, including netizens on X, accused Vijay of “abandoning his fans” at a critical moment.
The hashtag #KarurStampede trended with over 50,000 posts, some drawing parallels to a 2024 Hyderabad stampede involving actor Allu Arjun, with calls for Vijay’s arrest for negligence.
Political rivals seized the moment to critique TVK’s inexperience. AIADMK’s Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who canceled his own tour to visit Karur, called the incident a “failure of planning,” offering condolences.
VCK’s Thol. Thirumavalavan demanded Rs 50 lakh compensation and enhanced medical aid, while DMK allies emphasized governance over populism.
National leaders, including PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Congress MP K.C. Venugopal, expressed solidarity, with Modi announcing additional relief from the PM’s National Relief Fund.
Leaders from neighboring states, including Andhra Pradesh’s Pawan Kalyan and Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan, also condoled the losses.
A Community in Grief
The victims’ profiles paint a heartbreaking picture: children clutching Vijay posters, women inspired by his social reform promises, and volunteers who saw TVK as a new hope. One father, a daily wage worker, recounted his son’s excitement for an autograph, only to lose him in the chaos.
Hospitals remain crowded with grieving relatives, as the search for the missing girl continues to grip the community.
The Karur stampede has reignited calls for stricter regulations on celebrity-led rallies, a recurring issue in Tamil Nadu’s star-driven political culture. As the Jagadeesan Commission begins its work, questions loom over TVK’s organizational capacity and Vijay’s ability to navigate this crisis. For now, Karur mourns, and Tamil Nadu confronts the cost of a dream rally turned nightmare.
This report is compiled from official statements, police reports, and eyewitness accounts as of 11:30 PM IST, September 27, 2025.
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