Karur stampede: TVK chief Vijay announces Rs 20 lakh aid for kin of deceased
Thirty-nine people have been killed and 95 have been injured in the stampede that broke out at TVK's rally in Karur on Saturday
At least 39 people, including children, were killed and 95 were 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.
Long wait, crowd surge at Vijay’s rally
Addressing the press on Sunday (September 28) morning, Tamil Nadu DGP G Venkataraman blamed the stampede on the delayed arrival of actor-politician Vijay at the venue. He said the crowd had been waiting for a long time and lacked sufficient food and water while waiting for the actor’s arrival under the hot sun.
He said a surge in crowd was seen after the official X handle of Vijay’s TVK party said he would arrive at the venue by 12 noon.
“Permission (for the meeting) was sought between 3 pm-10 pm. The TVK Twitter account said he will come at 12 and the crowd started coming in from 11 AM. He came at 7.40 PM. The people lacked sufficient food and water under the hot sun." "Our intention is not to blame anyone, but we are just stating the facts," he said.
‘Arrangement made for 10K people; 27K turned up’
Further, Vijay was accorded a welcome at one point, and a big crowd followed him, and he was ushered in safely to the venue by the police. "He also lauded the police...the crowd kept swelling," he said.
While the organisers put the expected number at 10,000, about 27,000 people turned up to have a glimpse of the actor, Venkataraman said.
He indicated police protection was given, anticipating about 20,000.
Asked if there were "only 500" police personnel on bandobast duty, he said the meeting venue was a public road and more police cover would have meant people would not have sufficient space.
Two days ago, the meeting of a "big party" was held here, he said in an apparent reference to the AIADMK.
Stalin rushes to Karur, orders probe
Chief Minister MK Stalin rushed to Karur from Chennai past midnight and took stock of the treatment being given to the injured at the government hospital there.
Stalin said such a tragedy with such massive casualties in a political event has never occurred in the history of Tamil Nadu and should never recur in the future.
He announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for the injured while ordering the formation of an inquiry commission headed by a retired high court judge to probe the incident.
Authorities announced helpline numbers to reach the Karur district collect office helpdesk (04324 256306 and Whatsapp 7010806322).
Heat, chaos, overcrowding, 'power cut'
My heart is shattered: Vijay
The rally, part of Vijay's party TVK’s state-wide campaign push ahead of upcoming elections, was abruptly halted as cries of "police, please help!" echoed through the venue. Videos circulating online showed Vijay pausing his speech to distribute water bottles to his supporters.
Vijay later issued a brief statement on social media: "My heart is shattered; I am writhing in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow that words cannot express. I extend my deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of my dear brothers and sisters who lost their lives in Karur. I pray for the swift recovery of those receiving treatment in the hospital."
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Live Updates
- 28 Sept 2025 10:22 AM IST
Shoes, flags and silence define aftermath of Karur stampede
The devastating aftermath of the TVK rally stampede came to the fore on Sunday (September 28) through scattered debris—shoes, torn flags, crushed bottles, and broken poles littering the arterial road where 38 people lost their lives.
Early morning walkers discovered the barricaded venue blocked by 'Police-Do Not Cross' tapes, with many residents unaware of the tragedy's magnitude. While TVK flags still fluttered atop poles amid oversized speakers and lights, party workers remained silent about failures in crowd management.
A survivor described how people were "pushed to a 'low-lying sewerage' close to the road margin" during the stampede. He explained that "as fans were chanting Vijay's name, several did not realise that it was a stampede" until people began falling and tripping over each other. The stampede has claimed 39 lives so far.
Vijay expressed his grief through social media, stating, "My heart has broken, I am in unbearable, inexplicable pain and grief." Chief Minister MK Stalin rushed from Chennai past midnight to interact with doctors and comfort victims' families, while authorities established helpline numbers for assistance and coordination efforts.
- 28 Sept 2025 10:07 AM IST
Video shows boys climb roofs to escape Vijay rally crowd crush
A video footage of the TVK chief Vijay’s rally in Karur shows boys in white T-shirts wrapped in party flags frantically ripping straw from thatched huts and climbing onto roofs to escape the surging crowd. Many people fainted due to heat, dehydration, and lack of space after waiting hours in the sun.
The crowd began gathering from 11 am, expecting Vijay's noon arrival as announced on TVK's social media, but he arrived at 7:40 pm—over seven hours late, reported India Today.
- 28 Sept 2025 9:58 AM IST
Security beefed at Vijay's Chennai house after Karur stampede
Security has been beefed up at TVK chief Vijay’s residence in Chennai following the stampede in Karur that claimed 39 lives, reported NDTV, quoting sources in the Tamil Nadu government. Earlier, DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai has accused the organisers of TVK chief Vijay’s rally in Karur of the stampede.
- 28 Sept 2025 9:52 AM IST
TN BJP president says SC should take up the Karur stampede issue
Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran has said that the Supreme Court should take up the issue of the Karur stampede adding that his party has no faith in the committee set up in the committee set up by the state government.
"Today we met the families of those who died and those who are injured and admitted to the hospital. No such incidents should happen in future. The Supreme Court sitting bench should take up this issue today itself. We don't trust the committee formed by the Tamil Nadu Government,” said Nainar.
- 28 Sept 2025 9:32 AM IST
Karur stampede: DMK blames Vijay’s rally organisers for the tragedy
DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai has accused the organisers of TVK chief Vijay’s rally in Karur of the stampede that cost 39 lives. Speaking to NDTV, the DMK leader alleged that Vijay and his team deliberately kept the crowd waiting to ensure a large mobilisation of people.
"This is a deliberate ploy made by the organisers of this event... They (people) waited for almost six hours. They were all there. Why did they (Vijay and team) do this? They did this so that there would be mobilisation of crowds. This is a cheap ploy by the organisers and there was criminal negligence," said the DMK leader,” said the DMK leader as quoted by NDTV.
- 28 Sept 2025 9:17 AM IST
Deputy CM Udhayanidhi visits kin of Karur stampede victims
Deputy CM Udayanidhi Stalin reaches the mortuary of the Karur Government Medical College and Hospital to meet the kin of those who lost their lives in the stampede during TVK chief Vijay’s rally.
- 28 Sept 2025 9:14 AM IST
EPS blames electricity issue, police bias for Karur stampede
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami has claimed that the fatal stampede at TVK chief Vijay’s rally in Kaur took place due to an issue regarding electric current, adding that the police should have ensured adequate security for the event.
He further alleged that even though thousands of police personnel are deployed for DMK’s rallies, such elaborate security arrangements are found missing during the political gatherings of Opposition parties, adding that the tragedy could have been averted if there were adequate security deployment.
“Yesterday, 39 people lost their lives. We were informed that the stampede occurred because of an electric current. Such a campaign was previously held in 4 districts, and the police should have provided adequate security. I don’t think that was done. Even in our AIADMK meeting, no proper security was provided. In DMK meetings, thousands of police are deployed for security. Police should not be biased in favour of the ruling party over opposition parties in providing security. If full security had been given, such a stampede would not have happened. The political party leader should have also examined and taken adequate steps to make sure no such incident happens. It's shocking and sad that these lives have been lost,” said EPS.
“If the Government and police had worked well, such lives would not have been lost. A one-man commission is formed. In the midst of the campaign yesterday, Vijay pointed out that an ambulance had arrived in between. It raises many doubts. I saw yesterday's stampede was shocking, and such a huge stampede has never happened before in Tamil Nadu in a political campaign...,” he added.
- 28 Sept 2025 8:51 AM IST
38 stampede victims identified; one woman's body still pending
The bodies of 38 people who died due to a stampede at the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s rally here on September 27 have been identified ,and efforts are on to hand over their mortal remains to their relatives, Dindigul district collector S Saravanan has said on Sunday.
The identity of a woman was yet to be established, he said.
"Currently, the work to identify this woman was on, and once it was done, we would follow the due procedure of conducting a post-mortem and hand over the body to her relatives,” he said.
Of the deceased, 14 have been handed over to their relatives so far, Saravanan told reporters here.
- 28 Sept 2025 8:45 AM IST
Watch: Families mourn outside Karur hospital after 39 deaths
Families mourn the loss of their loved ones outside the Karur government hospital, where the bodies of those who lost their lives in the Karur stampede have been brought. The stampede has cost 39 lives so far.
- 28 Sept 2025 8:39 AM IST
Watch: Deputy CM Udhayanidhi sets out for Karur hospital
Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu sets out for Karur Government Medical College and Hospital, where those injured in the Karur stampede are undergoing treatment.
