Karur, Tamil Nadu: September 28, 2025 – A massive political campaign rally by actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), in Karur, tragically ended in a fatal stampede on Saturday evening, claiming at least 39 lives.
The confirmed death toll, cited by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and other senior officials, includes a heartbreaking number of victims: 17 women, 13 men, and 9 children. Over 50 people were seriously injured and are receiving intensive treatment in area hospitals.
Hours after the disaster, TVK Chief Vijay took to X late on Saturday night to express his profound grief, writing, “My heart is shattered; I am writhing in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow that words cannot express.” He extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and offered prayers for the swift recovery of the injured.
Judicial Inquiry and Relief Measures Announced
In a swift response to the tragedy, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has taken immediate action:
- One-Man Commission: CM Stalin has ordered the formation of a Commission of Inquiry, to be led by retired High Court Judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, to conduct a thorough probe into the circumstances that led to the stampede. Justice Jagadeesan previously headed the commission that probed the Thoothukudi massacre.
- Compensation: The State government has announced an ex-gratia compensation of $₹$10 lakh for the families of the deceased and $₹$1 lakh for those undergoing intensive treatment for their injuries.
- CM’s Visit: CM Stalin has personally visited the Government Medical College and Hospital in Karur in the early hours of Sunday to meet the injured and console the families of the deceased.
Overcrowding and Fatigue Preceded Disaster
Police officials overseeing the investigation indicated that a major cause of the stampede was the massive, unexpected crowd surge, compounded by the prolonged wait under exhausting conditions.
- Crowd Overload: While organizers had sought permission for a rally anticipating around 10,000 people, the actual turnout was estimated by police at over 27,000 and by local reports at up to 60,000.
- Fatigue and Panic: The rally was scheduled from 3 PM, but crowds began assembling as early as 11 AM. As DGP in-charge G. Venkatraman noted, “By the time Vijay arrived at 7:40 pm, the crowd had already been waiting for hours without sufficient food and water.”
- Stampede Trigger: The stampede erupted around 7:30 PM as the densely packed crowd surged toward the barricades to catch a glimpse of the actor-politician during his speech. Several individuals, including women and children, fainted and collapsed, triggering mass panic. Vijay was seen halting his speech, throwing water bottles, and appealing for calm and police assistance.
Senior police officials confirmed that over 500 personnel were deployed, but stressed that the unanticipated crowd size and hours-long wait created an uncontrollable situation. An investigation is ongoing to fix responsibility for the crowd-control failures, and a case has been registered against the TVK’s Karur West district secretary, V.P. Mathiyazhagan, for alleged violation of campaign norms.
Several national leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, have expressed their profound concern and offered condolences to the victims’ families.