Chennai: In a heartbreaking turn of events, a massive stampede erupted at actor-turned-politician Vijay’s rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district on Saturday evening, claiming 38 lives and injuring 50 others.
A sudden power failure triggered the chaos, transforming a high-energy political gathering into a scene of utter pandemonium.
Former state minister and DMK leader V Senthil Balaji, who rushed to the Karur Government Medical College and Hospital late Saturday, provided grim updates. He confirmed that 46 victims are undergoing treatment in private hospitals, while 12 remain in government facilities. Chief Minister M K Stalin has expressed deep sorrow and is set to visit Karur on Sunday to oversee the response and meet affected families.
The rally, organised by Vijay’s newly-formed party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), drew an unprecedented crowd. Authorities had approved the event for around 30,000 participants, but eyewitnesses and local estimates peg the attendance at nearly 60,000. The venue was shifted from central Karur to Velusamipuram following police warnings about potential traffic snarls and overcrowding risks.
Disaster struck around 7:20 pm as Vijay delivered his speech. An abrupt blackout engulfed the ground in darkness, sparking widespread fear in the tightly-packed assembly. “People started pushing and running blindly,” recalled one attendee, highlighting how the lack of light, combined with stifling ventilation and intense crowd pressure, worsened the crush. Children and the elderly bore the brunt, with many collapsing from suffocation or trampling.
Rescue teams, led by the Karur Superintendent of Police, struggled to carve paths through the throng for ambulances and emergency vehicles. Power was eventually restored, allowing authorities to disperse the crowd, but not before the toll mounted.
In swift action, CM Stalin directed an emergency protocol, dispatching ministers Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and Ma. Subramanian to coordinate relief and medical aid. The Additional Director General of Police also conducted an on-site review.
This tragedy has ignited debates on inadequate safety protocols for mega political rallies. Could more effective crowd control measures have been implemented? TVK has yet to issue an official response, leaving supporters and critics alike seeking answers.