Karur (Tamil Nadu): What began as a show of strength for Tamil superstar-turned-politician Vijay turned into a night of horror on Saturday, when a stampede at his campaign rally in Karur claimed at least 39 lives, including six children, and left dozens critically injured.
The tragedy struck around 7.30 pm as Vijay addressed a crowd that had been waiting for him since noon. Thousands of fans had followed his convoy from Namakkal earlier in the day, swelling the numbers at Karur far beyond police estimates.
By the time Vijay reached the venue, the grounds had turned into a sea of humanity, with barricades straining under the pressure of eager supporters desperate to catch a glimpse of their idol.
Frenzy Turns Fatal
Witnesses described scenes of panic as the crowd surged forward, trapping people in the crush. Children were separated from parents, women fainted in the commotion, and several men collapsed as they struggled for air.
Ambulances wove through the throngs even as Vijay continued speaking on stage, seemingly unaware of the scale of the chaos erupting around him.
Doctors at Karur Government Hospital confirmed that 29 victims — including six children and more than half a dozen women — were declared dead shortly after arrival. With additional casualties at private hospitals, the toll rose to 39 by late night, with several others battling for life.
Emergency Response
Chief Minister M. K. Stalin expressed “deep anguish” and directed ministers and top officials to rush to Karur. Health Minister Ma Subramaniam, School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, and Additional Director General of Police Davidson were dispatched to oversee relief measures.
Former minister V. Senthil Balaji was also tasked with monitoring the ground situation.
“All available doctors must report for duty immediately,” Subramaniam instructed at a late-night briefing, as hospitals struggled to handle the influx of the injured.
Vijay’s Response and Political Flashpoint
Even as bodies were being ferried to hospitals, Vijay was seen continuing his speech before departing by chartered flight to Chennai. His aides later claimed he was unaware of the magnitude of the casualties until after leaving the venue.
The stampede has reignited debate over Vijay’s increasingly tense relationship with the state administration.
In recent rallies at Ariyalur and Trichy, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader had mocked restrictions imposed by authorities, accusing them of cutting off his microphone and warning him not to wave, smile, or mingle with the public.
“Oh my god, this is semma comedy,” Vijay had quipped at one rally, even addressing Chief Minister Stalin directly: “CM sir, are you threatening me? You got it wrong.”
At Karur, Vijay initially thanked the police for helping him reach the venue, but ended his speech by blaming them again for “unnecessary restrictions.” Senior officers, however, said tighter controls were necessary after previous TVK events had spiralled out of control.
“Unfortunately, he used the stage to blame us again, and today it has ended in a massive tragedy,” one senior officer remarked.
A Stark Comparison
Just days earlier, AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami had held a rally at the very same venue in Karur on September 25 without incident.
Police officers pointed out the difference — while Palaniswami’s rally was orderly, thousands of Vijay’s fans tailed his convoy from Namakkal to Karur, defying restrictions and overwhelming security arrangements.
What was meant to be a display of mass support for a film icon’s political journey ended in one of Tamil Nadu’s worst rally tragedies in recent memory — leaving families shattered and a state asking hard questions about accountability.
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