Karur, Tamil Nadu | September 28, 2025 –
Tragedy struck on Sunday during a massive political rally of *Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay, where a **stampede claimed 40 lives. Officials fear the death toll may rise further, as several of the injured remain in critical condition. Among the deceased were *three children, highlighting the severity of the disaster.
The stampede occurred after a crowd of more than *50,000 supporters gathered, despite police permission being granted for only **10,000 attendees. Fans reportedly grew restless as Vijay arrived nearly **seven hours late, leading to overcrowding and chaos. Authorities have blamed *poor planning and negligence by the organizers for the tragedy.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed deep sorrow and held discussions with the Karur District Collector regarding the incident. He stressed that the tragedy could have been avoided if the event had followed police guidelines. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin also visited the mortuary at the Government Medical College and Hospital, where he met with grieving families.
Meanwhile, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami reached the hospital to visit the injured and console the victims’ families. The bodies are being handed over after post-mortem examinations, while doctors continue to treat dozens of seriously injured individuals.
According to police sources, the organizers violated security norms, leading to uncontrollable crowding. The administration has now ordered a high-level investigation to determine accountability and prevent such incidents in the future.
The Karur stampede is one of the deadliest political rally tragedies in recent memory, raising urgent concerns over crowd management and event safety in Tamil Nadu. Political observers fear the incident could also have significant implications for Vijay’s new party, TVK, as it prepares for the upcoming state elections.