Stampede at Vijay’s Rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, Leaves 36 Dead

A crowd surge at Tamil actor and politician Vijay’s rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, on [date of event] resulted in 36 deaths and left 40 others seriously injured. The incident occurred during the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) “Velicham Veliyeru” campaign meeting at Velusamypuram on the Karur–Erode highway.

According to Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian, the fatalities included at least 16 women, nine men, and six children. Thousands of people had gathered for the rally when the stampede-like crush took place.

Details of the Incident

The incident began around 7:45 p.m. when sections of the crowd surged toward the stage barricades as Vijay was addressing attendees. Several people fainted in the dense rush, forcing the actor-politician to halt his speech.

Ambulances struggled to reach the injured due to congestion at the venue. Volunteers stepped in to form human chains to create pathways for emergency responders.

Crowd Estimates and Venue Shift

Police sources reported that permissions were granted for approximately 30,000 participants. However, local accounts indicated that nearly 60,000 people gathered. The venue had already been changed once after police raised concerns about traffic and congestion in central Karur.

Response and Inquiry

The district administration has launched a magisterial inquiry into the incident. Officials stated that responsibility will be assigned once video evidence and testimonies are reviewed, citing apparent crowd-control lapses.

Authorities are considering compensation of ₹5 lakh for each family of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.

Reactions from Leaders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences, describing the incident as deeply saddening. Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and other leaders also shared their reactions.

The tragedy has drawn attention to safety and crowd-management measures at large political gatherings in Tamil Nadu.