Karur stampede: Political blame game continues amid TVK’s sabotage claim
Retired judge heading probe panel visits site of stampede and TVK moves court as the injured and kin of deceased struggle to come to terms with the tragedy
Nearly 24 hours after a stampede on Saturday (September 28) at the Karur election rally of TVK president Vijay turned deadly, the investigation into the tragedy triggered a war of words.
While the party accused the MK Stalin government in the state of not providing enough safety measures, the government and DMK partymen said the party organisers had made sub-par arrangements. There were talks of sabotage and conspiracy theories even as the injured people and the kin of the deceased struggled to come to terms with the tragedy.
Vijay on Sunday announced that Rs 20 lakh would be given to the families of those who lost their lives at the stampede.
Chief Minister Stalin expressed profound grief and ordered a high-level probe into the stampede. He announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for the injured. Local police are investigating whether lapses in crowd management and emergency planning contributed to the high toll.
Read live updates here.
Live Updates
- 28 Sept 2025 2:13 PM IST
Reasons for Karur TVK's rally stampede: Ground Reports
A stampede-like situation at TVK chief Vijay’s election rally in Karur on Saturday claimed 31 lives, including six children, and left dozens injured. Thousands had gathered in Velusamypuram since early morning, enduring extreme heat with little access to water or shade. As the venue overflowed, dehydration and exhaustion triggered panic, leading to the tragedy. Ambulances struggled to reach victims due to blocked routes, sparking criticism over crowd management and emergency preparedness. The incident adds to other logistical blunders in TVK’s campaign, raising concerns about the party’s ability to manage its surging popularity. - 28 Sept 2025 2:12 PM IST
Watch: Dy CM Udhayanidhi reviews medical treatment of those injured in Karur stampede
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chaired a high-level review meeting at the Government Medical College Hospital auditorium to assess the ongoing medical treatment of those injured in the Karur stampede that took place during TVK leader Vijay's rally.
- 28 Sept 2025 2:08 PM IST
Watch: Families grieve as Karur stampede victims as they prepare for last rites
Family members of the victims of the stampede in Karur during TVK chief Vijay’s rally break down in tears as they prepare for the last rites of their loved ones.
- 28 Sept 2025 2:00 PM IST
Stampede at Vijay's Karur rally: All you need to know
Where is Karur? What exactly happened there? Who is Vijay and why is he taking out mass rallies? What did Vijay say after the stampede? Were Vijay's rallies poorly prepared and managed? What is the Centre's response? What is the state's response?
- 28 Sept 2025 1:58 PM IST
Why Karur stampede is the deadliest political rally tragedy in TN’s history
The tragedy unfolded shortly after the rally ended, as the packed crowd attempted to exit the venue in sweltering heat and overwhelming congestion. Sources told The Federal that the stampede began when people, waiting for long hours at the venue, fainted, and others, unknowingly walked over them to go ahead.
Tamil Nadu has witnessed stampedes over the decades, some tied to religious gatherings and others to mass public events. However, senior police officials say that the Karur stampede was the first such incident at an election rally that resulted in fatalities. The Kumbakonam Mahamagam (1992) and Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar Temple consecration (1997) were two major stampedes of similar scale, each claiming the lives of nearly 50 people.
- 28 Sept 2025 1:57 PM IST
4 TVK leaders booked in attempt to murder case
Even as the TVK and Vijay face backlash over the stampede, Karur Town Police have registered a serious case against four prominent TVK functionaries, including controversial activist Bussy Anand and CT Nirmal Kumar, charging them with attempted murder and public property damage.
Notably, Vijay has not been named in the FIR, even though police have attributed his delay in arriving at the venue to have led to a crowd surge, resulting in the stampede.
- 28 Sept 2025 1:55 PM IST
TVK cries sabotage, moves Madras HC seeking fair probe
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has filed a petition with the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, demanding an independent probe either by the CBI or an SIT into the incident that it alleged was a sabotage targeting party chief Vijay.
The TVK suspects that foul play caused the tragedy and reposed little faith in local investigation. A party spokesperson told The Federal that the incident was not just a tragedy and called for accountability. “We cannot trust local probes when political interference looms large,” the official told The Federal.
- 28 Sept 2025 1:47 PM IST
The stampede, the trauma, the first reactions: Past updates
At least 40 people, including children, were killed and nearly 100 injured in a stampede that broke out during a rally of actor-politician Vijay in Karur on Saturday (September 27). Of the injured, 51 have been admitted to the government hospital in Karur, where the condition of one of them is stated to be critical.
- 28 Sept 2025 1:46 PM IST
TVK chief Vijay's rally stampede death toll reaches 40
The death toll in the stampede at TVK chief Vijay’s rally has gone up to 40. While TVK chief Vijay has announced compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased while his party has approached the Madras High Court seeking an independent investigation into the incident.
