The tragedy has sparked a political blame game and raised serious questions about safety protocols for mass gatherings in the state. (Image: File)
Today, what had begun as a day of political zeal and fan enthusiasm descended into unspeakable misery in Tamil Nadu's Karur district. Reports confirm that at least 36 people lost their lives and about 40 were injured in a stampede-like incident caused by an unexpected crowd surge during a large TVK campaign event led by actor-politician Vijay.
The event happened at Velusamypuram during the "Velicham Veliyeru" (Let There Be Light) campaign meeting. Eyewitnesses recount that around 7:45 PM, as Vijay took the stage, the crowd of thousands, eager to get closer to the star, surged forward en masse.
Near the barriers the pressure became unbearable, causing an unpleasant crush. Many were trampled underfoot in the confusion, people started fainting, and children were taken from their families. Live footage captured a concerned Vijay pausing his speech, distributing water bottles, and urgently calling for police assistance to locate a missing child.
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The root of the tragedy appears to be a catastrophic mismatch between crowd size and safety preparations. While police had granted permission for an estimated 30,000 people, local reports suggest nearly 60,000 supporters converged on the venue from surrounding districts. The venue itself had been moved from central Karur to Velusamypuram for safety reasons, but the open space was still overwhelmed. Police sources said the entry gates became choke points, with barricades collapsing under the overwhelming rush of people, especially as excitement peaked with Vijay’s arrival.
Ambulances found it difficult to get to the injured across the crowded grounds during the chaotic aftermath. To transport victims to hospitals in Karur, Erode, and Tiruchirappalli, volunteers fashioned human chains. The death toll, initially reported as 10, climbed through the night as hospitals filed their reports. Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian confirmed the casualties, and the state government has announced a solatium of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered to investigate the crowd-control failures.
The tragedy has triggered a political blame game. The opposition AIADMK and BJP have accused the ruling DMK government and TVK organizers of negligence. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami stated the loss of life was "avoidable." In defense, TVK spokesperson Bussy Anand expressed deep grief but claimed the party had followed all police instructions, attributing the disaster to the overwhelming public love for Vijay.
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Tragically, yes. Tamil Nadu's deep-rooted culture of celebrity-driven politics has a history of such dangerous frenzies. Similar incidents, though smaller in scale, have occurred at rallies for leaders like Jayalalithaa and during public events like Jallikattu. Political sociologists emphasize that professional event management is necessary for such meetings and that enthusiastic volunteers should not be the only ones in charge, citing the "cult of personality" that pushes crowds to dangerous extremes.
The Karur rally was a key event for TVK to consolidate its surprising 10% vote share from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. However, this tragedy now poses a significant test for Vijay's political image.
