The death toll from the stampede at a political rally in Karur district, organised by actor‑turned‑politician Vijay of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has climbed to 39, officials confirmed.
The deceased include women, children, and men. Among them, 10 children and 17 women were reported dead.
Over 50 people have been injured, many in critical condition.
Earlier media reports had put the injury count at 46.
According to a local compiled summary, 83 persons are also reported injured.
What went wrong?
The stampede occurred when sections of the crowd surged toward barricades around the stage, triggered after a fall or collapse in the densely packed gathering.
Vijay’s arrival was delayed by more than six hours, during which time the crowd had grown dangerously large and restless.
The venue was in Veluswamypuram, along the Karur–Erode highway, where precautions such as buffer zones or sufficient exit routes reportedly were inadequate.
Some attendees fainted, likely from heat exposure and crowd pressure, compounding panic and disorder.
Eyewitnesses and media commentary point to multiple systemic failures: overcrowding, delays, lack of emergency access, and insufficient crowd control.
Legal action
Karur District Police have filed separate FIRs against Anand (TVK General Secretary) and Nirmal Kumar (Joint General Secretary) in connection with the rally.
ADGP (Law & Order) S Davidson Devasirvatham confirmed 39 fatalities and stated that a case has been registered and preliminary investigations will begin.
Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has ordered the constitution of a one-person Commission of Inquiry, headed by retired High Court Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, to investigate the causes and accountability.
The state government also announced an ex gratia compensation of ₹10 lakh for each family of the deceased from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund.
CM Stalin is travelling to Karur to meet victims’ families and oversee relief coordination. Reuters
Political fallout
DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai held Vijay and the rally organisers responsible, accusing them of “criminal negligence.” He claimed that attendees were left waiting for hours in the sun as part of a deliberate crowd‑mobilisation ploy.
“Whoever is responsible has to be arrested. And Vijay is culpable. He cannot escape culpability,” Annadurai said.
Vijay, upon arriving in Chennai, expressed his grief, stating: “My heart is shattered, writhing in pain.”
The debut TVK rally in Trichy earlier this month had already caused widespread traffic disruption. In that event, a 20‑minute journey stretched into six hours.
The Traders’ Federation in Karur district announced a shutdown in solidarity, calling the incident avoidable and extending condolences. The Times of India
Reports said permission for the Karur rally had earlier been denied by police, citing high footfall and law‑and‑order concerns.
Earlier in the campaign, TVK workers in other districts faced legal notices for violations, including unauthorized banners and structures that created crowd hazards.
In August 2025, a case was registered against Vijay and his security personnel after a party cadre alleged assault by bouncers during a TVK event in Madurai, according to India Today
