39 killed in Chennai stampede

Chennai, Sep 28: The death toll in the stampede at Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor-turned-politician Vijay’s rally in Karur has risen to 39, officials said on Sunday.

Among the dead are 10 children, 17 women and 12 men. More than 80 others remain hospitalised, with 51 still in intensive care.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin reached Karur in the early hours to console the bereaved families and visit the injured at the Government Medical College and Hospital. Addressing the media after the visit, Stalin said as reported by TOI quoting ANI, “I am standing here with deep sorrow. I am unable to describe the horrific accident that took place in Karur. Yesterday, around 7:45 pm, while I was in Chennai, I received the news that such an incident had occurred. So far, 39 people have died. In the history of our state, never has such a large number of people lost their lives in a programme organised by a political party, and such a tragedy should never happen in the future either.”

The chief minister announced ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for each bereaved family and Rs 1 lakh for those injured. He also ordered a judicial inquiry headed by retired High Court judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan. According to officials, the tragedy unfolded around 7:30 pm on Saturday, when thousands had gathered since the afternoon to hear Vijay. The crowd swelled beyond capacity, and as the actor-turned-politician addressed supporters from atop his campaign vehicle, several people collapsed due to suffocation and exhaustion. Panic soon triggered a stampede.

Vijay later posted on X, “My heart is shattered; I am engulfed in unbearable pain and sorrow that words cannot express. I extend my deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of my dear brothers and sisters who lost their lives in Karur. I pray for the speedy recovery of those receiving treatment in the hospital.” Amid grief and anger among locals, police have fortified Vijay’s residence in Chennai. TOI reported that security was stepped up to prevent any public outburst from being directed against the actor-politician, who is seen as leading the rally where the tragedy occurred.

At the national level, condolences poured in. President Droupadi Murmu expressed anguish at the “tragic loss of lives,” while Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the incident “deeply saddening.” Union Home Minister Amit Shah said he was “deeply pained by the tragic loss of lives” and assured all possible central support after speaking to Governor R.N. Ravi and CM Stalin. The Union Home Ministry has sought a detailed report from the state government. Congress leaders Mallikarjuna Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi, BJP president J.P. Nadda, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Kamal Haasan, and superstar Rajinikanth also expressed condolences.

Meanwhile, the DMK hit out at TVK. DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai told PTI Videos, “People were all there and suddenly they are dead because of the stampede. Who is responsible for this? It is the organisers of this rally who are clearly responsible. They deliberately delayed the programme for fancy drone shots, and this has now killed so many people.” Karur wore a sombre look on Sunday, with scenes of grieving families outside hospitals, desperate searches for missing loved ones, and rows of bodies awaiting identification. (Inputs from TOI, PTI, ANI)