The crowd in Karur
Karur’s Light Dims: Vijay’s Rally Ends in Sorrow
Karur, Tamil Nadu: At least 31 were killed in a tragic stampede that occurred during a political rally led by actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, popularly known as Vijay or Thalapathy Vijay, here today. The rally, organised by his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and themed “Velicham Veliyeru” (Let There Be Light), was held at Veluchamipuram along the Karur–Erode highway.
The political rally, part of Vijay’s statewide campaign ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, turned chaotic around 7:45 PM IST due to overcrowding and a sudden crowd surge, resulting in at least 31 fatalities, including six children, nine men, and 16 women. Over 50-60 individuals have been hospitalised, with 46 at a private hospital and 12 at a government facility; several remain in critical condition.
The incident occurred after a significant delay; Vijay, scheduled to arrive around noon, reached the venue nearly six hours later. By then, the crowd had swelled to approximately 30,000 people. During the rally, Vijay criticised the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government for unfulfilled promises, such as establishing an airport in Karur, and referenced controversies involving former minister Senthil Balaji without naming him directly. He also predicted a shift in Tamil Nadu’s political power within six months.
Overcrowding, combined with high temperatures and a violation of police safety instructions, led to attendees dismantling barricades, causing a stampede-like situation. Several people fainted, and Vijay paused his speech mid-way to distribute water bottles from his campaign vehicle and arrange ambulances before resuming. Power supply disruptions were reported but later restored.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as the crowd became increasingly dense, leaving little room to move. Reports confirmed that Vijay himself noticed the escalating situation and took immediate steps to provide relief, including distributing water bottles and coordinating with security personnel to assist people who had collapsed. Many attendees said the sudden surge and panic left them trapped, and some fainted due to heat and crowd pressure.
Experts in crowd management and public safety noted that narrow entry points, high temperatures, and insufficient barricades contributed significantly to the tragedy. They stressed that proper crowd control measures, including clear signage, trained personnel, adequate spacing, and ready access to emergency medical facilities, are critical to preventing such incidents at large gatherings. Analysts also highlighted that political rallies in India frequently underestimate turnout, and failure to implement safety measures can have fatal consequences.
This tragedy echoes past stampedes across Tamil Nadu, where inadequate crowd management has led to significant loss of life. In Tamil Nadu, a 1992 stampede during the Mahamaham festival in Kumbakonam claimed 50 lives and injured 74 amid tens of thousands of pilgrims. The 2005 North Chennai floods saw two deadly events: one on November 6, killing six and injuring 12 during relief distribution in Vyasarpadi, and another on December 18, claiming 42 lives in MGR Nagar. More recently, in February 2023, four women died and 10 were injured in a stampede at a saree distribution event in Tirupattur district.
Similar incidents have occurred in other states, such as a stampede at New Delhi’s main railway station on February 15, 2025, killing 18 people, mostly women and children, as they rushed to board trains for the Maha Kumbh festival; at a religious gathering led by self-styled godman Bhole Baba in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, on July 2, 2024, where 121 lives were lost due to chaos at exit points; and during the annual Lairai Jatra festival at Shree Lairai Devi Temple in Goa’s Shirgao village on May 3, 2025, resulting in six deaths and around 100 injuries amid lakhs of devotees. A similar incident occurred earlier this year near Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, 2025, during celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first IPL title win, resulting in 11 deaths and 56 injuries outside the venue due to crowds forcing entry past barricades after an announcement of free passes.
Deadly stampedes in Karur, Bengaluru, Hathras, Delhi, Prayagraj, Tirupattur and other parts of India expose repeated failures in crowd management and safety enforcement. These recurring stampedes reveal persistent administrative lapses and inadequate crowd control across the country. The persistent neglect of crowd safety despite judicial probes and past disasters reveals persistent administrative lapses and inadequate crowd control across India.
The Bengaluru stampede prompted a judicial commission led by retired Karnataka High Court judge Justice John Michael D’Cunha, which submitted its report on July 11, 2025. The commission held Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and senior Bengaluru police officers responsible, citing “recklessness bordering on gross negligence” for holding the event without required permissions and adequate security. Only 79 personnel were deployed inside the stadium, with none outside, and no ambulances were present. The report deemed the stadium’s design “inherently unsuitable and unsafe” for large-scale events, leading to its removal from IPL venues for 2026. It recommended comprehensive safety upgrades and better coordination for future events. The ongoing Criminal Investigation Department probe continues to examine criminal aspects, with arrests made and some officials granted interim bail.
Similarly, the Hathras stampede led to a three-member judicial inquiry commission, which submitted its report in March 2025. The panel blamed administration and organisers for crowd management lapses, negligence, mismanagement, and flawed permissions processes, while hinting at a possible criminal conspiracy. It highlighted safety lapses and sought a deeper probe, resulting in suspensions of six police and government officials. These investigations illustrate how organisational and administrative lapses can prove fatal in crowded events. However, the repeated occurrence of such mishaps across India, despite probes consistently identifying inadequate planning, insufficient security, and lax permissions as root causes, underscores a persistent failure to implement recommended safety reforms and learn from past tragedies, leaving the public vulnerable to recurring disasters.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin described the Karur incident as “worrying” and directed Health Minister Ma Subramanian and the district collector to provide immediate medical assistance. Twenty-four doctors from Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) and 20 from Salem were mobilised to Karur, with ambulances stationed at the site to rush the injured to nearby hospitals. Stalin is expected to visit Karur on Sunday to assess the situation. Minister Senthil Balaji confirmed treatment details and urged public cooperation with police and doctors.
Vijay, born on June 22, 1974, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is a prominent Indian actor, playback singer, and philanthropist, primarily recognised for his work in Tamil cinema. He began his career as a child artist in 1984 and transitioned to lead roles in 1992 with the film Naalaiya Theerpu. Over the years, he has starred in numerous successful films such as Ghilli, Thuppakki, Mersal, Master, and Leo, becoming one of the highest-paid actors in India. In February 2024, he announced his retirement from acting and founded TVK, aiming to promote secularism, social justice, and the Tamil language. The party’s ideology draws from Ambedkarism, Periyarism, and Marxism, and opposes both the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The tragedy in Karur, located about 390 kilometres west of Chennai in central Tamil Nadu along the banks of the Kaveri River and which serves as the administrative headquarters of Karur district, has garnered national attention. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, “The unfortunate incident during a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. Wishing strength to them in this difficult time. Praying for a swift recovery to all those injured.” Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed, “Deeply pained by the tragic loss of lives in a stampede in Karur, Tamil Nadu. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. I pray to the Almighty to give them the strength to bear this grief and for the speedy recovery of the injured.” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh added, “Deeply anguished by the tragic accident at a rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu. The loss of innocent lives is truly heartbreaking. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the speedy recovery of those who are injured.” BJP Tamil Nadu Chief K. Annamalai and Congress Leader KC Venugopal also expressed condolences, with Venugopal calling the incident “deeply disturbing.”
Eyewitnesses and reports attribute the Karur tragedy to inadequate crowd management and the venue’s congested location, selected by TVK. Questions are being raised about event planning at high-profile political gatherings, with parallels drawn to recent incidents across India where poor planning and authorisation lapses were critical factors. TVK has not issued an official statement. A pall of gloom has descended over Karur, with families mourning their losses. Further investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the stampede and to ensure accountability for the tragic loss of life.
– global bihari bureau
