A catastrophic stampede at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, led by actor-politician Vijay, resulted in a devastating loss of life and injuries on Saturday. The rally witnessed an unexpectedly large crowd, exceeding the initial estimates by a significant margin. Event organizers had anticipated a gathering of around 10,000 people, but the actual attendance surged to approximately 27,000. This unprecedented turnout created a chaotic and dangerous situation, which ultimately led to the stampede. The tragic incident claimed the lives of at least 39 individuals, including nine children, with more than 50 others sustaining injuries. The DGP of Tamil Nadu, G Venkatraman, emphasized the unexpected nature of the massive crowd. He stated that prior TVK rallies had smaller turnouts. The extended waiting period before Vijay’s arrival, coupled with the lack of provisions, further intensified the crisis. The crowd had been assembling from 11 am, despite the scheduled event timing of 3 pm to 10 pm. Vijay arrived at 7:40 pm, after the crowd had already endured hours of waiting without sufficient food and water. Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed profound grief and acknowledged the unprecedented scale of the tragedy within the state’s history. He pledged support for the victims’ families, providing compensation and launching an official inquiry led by a retired High Court judge.
