Daijiworld Media Network - Karur

Karur, Sep 27: A massive tragedy unfolded at a campaign rally led by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor-turned-politician Vijay, where 31 people — including women and children — are feared dead following a stampede triggered by severe overcrowding. The incident occurred on Saturday in Karur, Tamil Nadu, bringing the political gathering to a tragic halt and casting a long shadow over Vijay’s rising political movement.

What was expected to be a high-energy political address quickly turned into chaos as the crowd swelled beyond control. Though organisers had received permission for an expected 10,000 attendees, officials now estimate that nearly 50,000 people packed into the 1.2 lakh square foot venue, creating dangerous conditions that led to multiple people fainting, collapsing, and, ultimately, losing their lives in the stampede.

Vijay paused his speech mid-way as panic spread and urged calm, requesting his supporters to clear the way for emergency ambulances. Eyewitnesses reported children and elderly attendees fainting due to suffocation and intense crowd pressure. A nine-year-old girl was reported missing during the confusion, prompting Vijay to make a public appeal for help in locating her.

As medical teams rushed in and ambulances navigated through dense crowds, police resorted to baton charges in an attempt to disperse the gathering. Water bottles were distributed and injured individuals were transported to nearby hospitals. A heavy police presence remains in Karur, and an investigation is underway to determine lapses in crowd management and possible negligence by organisers.

The tragedy has drawn swift political and public reactions:

• Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, calling the incident "worrying", said he had spoken with officials including DMK leader Senthil Balaji, Health Minister Ma Subramanian, and the Karur District Collector. He has directed nearby minister Anbil Mahesh to assist and will visit Karur personally.
“I request the public to cooperate with the doctors and the police,” Stalin posted on X.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences, calling the event "deeply saddening" and extending prayers to the grieving families and those injured.

“My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones... Praying for a swift recovery to all those injured,” PM Modi posted on X.

The stampede occurred just as Vijay was launching a scathing critique of the ruling DMK, particularly over its handling of Karur’s proposed airport project, indirectly targeting Senthil Balaji. His rally speech, which forecasted a "change in power within the next six months", was cut short as chaos unfolded.

This event was part of Vijay’s statewide political tour ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, meant to showcase the growing reach of TVK. However, the Karur disaster now marks a turning point, prompting serious concerns about public safety at political events and the responsibilities of organisers and authorities.

With political tensions rising and public grief deepening, both the state and central governments are now under pressure to respond swiftly — not just with compensation or condolences, but with accountability.

The full scale of the tragedy — and its impact on Tamil Nadu’s political climate — is only just beginning to unfold.