In Karur, a stampede broke out during a rally due to overcrowding, resulting in at least 39 deaths. South Indian mega star Vijay faced criticism after the tragedy, as witnesses and relatives of the victims claimed he moved through the crowd instead of ensuring the area was safe.
Vijay faces criticism over handling of Karur rally crowd
According to Mathurbhumi, Vijay had to stop his speech midway as the dense crowd struggled under the intense heat and congestion. In an effort to help, he began distributing bottled water from his promotional vehicle. However, in the rush to grab the bottles, people were pushed and trampled, worsening the situation and contributing to the tragic stampede.
While his intention to distribute water and help fans was clear, the gathering and lack of crowd control turned the situation fatal. Authorities are currently investigating the situation and police action may include proceedings against Vijay, though no immediate arrests are expected.
Charges filed in Karur rally aftermath
Police have filed a case against TVK, the party associated with actor Vijay, under four sections of law. The case has been registered against V.P. Matiyazhakan, the Karur West district president of TVK and the main organiser of the rally, according to Mathrubhumi.
The charges include attempted murder (Section 109 of the Indian Penal Code), culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 110), acts endangering human life or safety (Section 125B), and disobedience to government orders (Section 223). Authorities are also considering action against Vijay himself, though an immediate arrest is not expected.
It has now been confirmed that 39 people, including children, died in the Karur tragedy. Most of the deceased were locals of Karur. Among the dead were nine children, including one as young as one and a half years old, and 17 women.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the massive turnout of attendees, far exceeding expected numbers, caused the disaster. Many party workers and children were among the victims of the stampede.
The rally on Saturday was part of Vijay’s statewide promotional campaign. Given the superstar aura of the actor, crowds from various locations arrived to attend the event. The heavy crowd and heat caused multiple people to collapse.
Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai has blamed the DMK for the tragedy that claimed 39 lives, calling the incident both “shocking” and “disturbing.”
“For a political party’s gathering, it is the responsibility of the police to accurately estimate the number of attendees, select an appropriate venue accordingly, and deploy an adequate number of police personnel to ensure the safety of the public attending the event. There are also reports that electricity was disrupted during Vijay’s gathering,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), before adding, “The Tamil Nadu government and the police acting with such negligence is highly condemnable.”