A massive tragedy struck Tamil Nadu’s Karur district on September 27, 2025, when a stampede broke out at the election rally of actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamizha Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). According to initial reports, 41 people lost their lives and 95 were injured, with 51 in critical condition in ICU. The deceased include 18 women, 13 men, and 10 children.
Causes and sequence of events
Authorities had permitted 10,000 attendees, but nearly 30,000–50,000 people turned up. Vijay’s arrival was delayed by about six hours, causing restlessness. Around 7:45 p.m., a section of the crowd rushed towards Vijay’s bus, triggering chaos. The heat and humidity caused several to faint, while children were crushed in the surge. The absence of sufficient police and volunteers made the situation worse.
Later that night, Chennai Police received a call about a bomb allegedly planted at Vijay’s Neelankarai residence. A bomb squad and sniffer dogs conducted a thorough search, but no explosives were found. Security has been tightened around his house.
Political Row and Court Hearing
TVK leaders alleged it was a “political conspiracy” and accused DMK leaders of instigating the crowd. The party has filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking a CBI or SIT probe, with a hearing scheduled for today afternoon. Opposition parties have also criticized the administration for failing to ensure safety.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced ₹10 lakh compensation for families of the deceased and ₹1 lakh for the injured. The Prime Minister’s Office has announced ₹2 lakh for the victims’ families and ₹50,000 for the injured. Vijay himself pledged ₹20 lakh for the deceased families and ₹2 lakh for the injured.
The Tamil Nadu government has set up a special inquiry commission headed by Justice Aruna Jagadeesan. Police have also filed cases over lapses in crowd control. The High Court hearing and the inquiry commission’s report are expected to determine accountability for the tragedy.
Meanwhile, #JusticeForKarurVictims is trending on social media, with thousands demanding strict action against those responsible.
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