TVK Vijay rally stampede Live Updates: TVK rally organiser, party’s Karur West district president, VP Mathiyazhakan, has been booked for attempt to murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder and several other sections of the IPC, Mathrubhumi reported. At least 39 people lost their lives after a massive rally by TVK chief and actor-turned-politician Vijay in Karur turned chaotic due to heavy overcrowding. According to a report by HT, officials had expected around 30,000 people for the TVK rally, but 60,000 people turned up.
Stalin, while speaking to the reporters, said that this is by far the largest number of deaths the state has witnessed in a program organised by a political party. He said that he is falling short of words to describe the incident and that such a tragedy “should never happen” in the future.
“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 speaking with officials, I received the news that such an incident had occurred. As soon as I received the information, I called former Minister Senthil Balaji, asked him to inquire, and instructed him to go to the hospital. When I heard the news about the death toll, I instructed the nearby ministers to go to Karur,” he said.
CM Stalin went on to say, “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 program organised by a political party, and such a tragedy should never happen in the future either. Currently, 51 people are undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit. With a heavy heart, I pay homage to those who have lost their lives.”
The Chief Minister also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh to those who were injured. He has also ordered an inquiry into the tragedy, and it will be headed by a retired High Court judge.
PM Narendra Modi also posted a message on X and called the incident “deeply saddening”. “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,” the PM wrote on X.
Follow this space for our live coverage on the aftermath of the stampede:
Vijay TVK Rally Stampede Live Updates:
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: 'My heart and mind are overwhelmed with profound heaviness', Vijay on stampede
TVK Chief Vijay releases statement on stampede incident that killed several people during his rally.
"Greetings to all who reside in my heart. In a way that defies imagination, thinking about what happened in Karur yesterday, my heart and mind are overwhelmed with profound heaviness. In the midst of the immense grief of losing our loved ones, I am at a loss for words to express the pain my heart endures. My eyes and mind are clouded with sorrow. The faces of all of you whom I have met keep flashing through my mind. The more I think of my loved ones who show affection and care, the further my heart slips further from its place. My dear ones… While I express my deepest condolences with indescribable pain to you who are grieving the loss of our cherished loved ones, I also stand close to your hearts, sharing this immense sorrow. This is indeed an irreparable loss for us. No matter who offers words of comfort, the loss of our loved ones is unbearable. Yet, as a member of your family, I intend to provide 20 lakh rupees to each family that has lost a loved one and 2 lakh rupees to those who are injured and receiving treatment. This amount is, of course, not significant in the face of such a loss. Still, at this moment, it is my duty as one who belongs to your family to stand by you, my dear ones, with a heavy heart. Likewise, I pray to God that all our loved ones who are injured and undergoing treatment recover swiftly and return home. I also assure you that our Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam will steadfastly provide all necessary support to our loved ones under treatment. By the grace of God, let us strive to recover from all this."
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: PM Modi announces Rs 2 lakh ex gratia, Vijay declares Rs 20 lakh compensation for stampede victims
TVK's Vijay has announced Rs 20 lakh compensation for Karur rally victims’ families.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to be given to the next of kin of each deceased in the "unfortunate incident at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu." The injured would be given Rs. 50,000, the PMO said.
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: HM Shah has assured all support, sought report from TN govt - MoS
Union MoS L. Murugan said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured all necessary support, and the Union Home Ministry has sought an explanation from the state government regarding the Karur stampede incident.
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: TN Health Secy says adequate number of doctors available for post-mortem
On the Karur stampede incident, Tamil Nadu Government Health Secretary, Senthilkumar says, "Already in this Medical College Hospital, there are more than 200 doctors working. Apart from that, in the nearby Medical College Hospitals, around 150-149 doctors, nurses, other forensic experts, they have been brought. Actually, we need, because it was night time and immediately we have to mobilize, but this hospital is endowed with a sufficient number of experts, but even then, because large number of deaths, post-mortem has to be carried out by forensic experts..."
Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udayanidhi Stalin called the deaths due to stampede a "huge loss" that "cannot be replaced".
"We have advised the health department to make sure no further deaths occur due to the stampede. After such a scandal, it should not happen again, and for that, this government will take full action. CM has instructed that a single-person commission, headed by retired Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, be formed to inquire about the stampede incident. Aruna Jagadeesan is expected to arrive in Karur today. Our Chief Minister will take legal action as per the report of the enquiry commission," he added.
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: 'Vijay is in unimaginable grief', says TVK's legal wing coordinator on stampede
Speaking on the Karur stampede incident, the State Coordinator of the Legal Wing of TVK, Arivazhagan said that Vijay is in unimaginable grief, and "we're also finding it difficult to speak at this time."
"We'll discuss the incident and our next steps with our president Vijay. We've been conducting our meetings based on the conditions provided by the police. After consulting with our party president Vijay, we'll inform you about our next steps," he added.
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: Crowds surged due to delayed arrival of Vijay, says DGP
Tamil Nadu DGP G Venkataraman said that the crowd swelled due to the delayed arrival of the actor-politician to the venue, and they lacked sufficient food and water during the waiting hours under the hot sun, he told reporters here.
"An unfortunate incident happened; a regrettable one. As per the latest information, 38 people have died. They are 12 men, 16 women and 10 children," he said in an early morning briefing.
He further said there was a crowd surge after the official Twitter handle of Vijay's TVK party mentioned that he would arrive at the meeting venue by 12 noon.
"Permission (for the meeting) was sought between 3 pm and 10 pm. The TVK Twitter account said he will come at 12, and the crowd started coming in from 11 AM. He came at 7.40 PM. The people lacked sufficient food and water under the hot sun."
"Our intention is not to blame anyone, but we are just stating the facts," the Head of Police Force added.
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: 'Grief-filled cries have not left my heart': CM Stalin's emotional message
CM Stalin, in a deeply emotional message on X (formerly Twitter), said that "grief-filled cries" have not left his heart.
"The tears shed by the families of those who lost their lives throughout the night, and the pain caused by their grief-filled cries, have not left my heart," he said, while sharing a video.
The video shows him meeting with the families of the victims.
இரவு முழுவதும் உயிரிழந்தவர்களின் குடும்பத்தினர் சிந்திய கண்ணீரும், அவர்களது துக்கம் நிறைந்த அழுகுரல் ஏற்படுத்திய வலியும் என் நெஞ்சத்திலிருந்து அகலவில்லை… #karurtragedy pic.twitter.com/Z9K2TZs7NW
— M.K.Stalin - தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) September 28, 2025
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: HD Devegowda condoles victims' families
HD Devegowda has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, and wished speedy recovery to those injured.
"Deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident during a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu. My heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. I also wish a speedy recovery to all those injured," he wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: Handover of bodies of dead to families by noon
Tamil Nadu's Director of Medical Education (DME), Suganthy Rajakumari, said that the postmortem and handover of the bodies would be completed before Sunday noon. The director noted that the government had arranged accommodation, food, and other necessities.
"The total number of dead bodies we received is 39. The number of patients was 52. Only two patients are critical and on a ventilator. Before noon, we will finish all postmortems and hand over the bodies to the family members. Accommodation, food and other things have been arranged by the government," Rajakumari told ANI.
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: Out of 95 injured, all stable except one - Tamil Nadu Health Secretary
Tamil Nadu Health Secretary, while speaking to the reporters, said that out of 95 people who were injured, all are stable except for one. The stampede at the TVK rally took the lives of 39 people.
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: TVK rally organiser booked for attempt to murder
A case has been filed against TVK functionaries in connection with the stampede that claimed lives during a rally. The FIR names the party’s Karur West district president, VP Mathiyazhakan, who was the chief organiser of the event, Mathrubhumi reported.
The oulte reported that he has been charged under four sections of the Indian Penal Code: abetment of attempt to murder (109), culpable homicide not amounting to murder (110), acts endangering life or personal safety (125B), and disobedience to orders from authorities (223).
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: FIR filed against TVK functionaries, organiser
An FIR has been filed against TVK functionaries and the organiser under several sections of the IPC.
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: Annamalai pins blame on DMK
Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has pinned the blame on DMK for the tragedy that killed 39 people, saying that it is 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.”
He went on to say, “The DMK government, which deploys the entire district police force to provide security for gatherings organised by DMK members, has made it a habit to fail in providing adequate security arrangements for events held by opposition parties.”
He also urged DMK to provide compensation to the families of victims and probe the tragedy.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has formed an inquiry commission, which will be headed by a retired High Court judge, to probe the tragedy. He has also announced compensation - Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh to those who were injured.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed grief over the deaths in Karur, Tamil Nadu, where 39 people lost their lives during a rally. He extended his condolences to the family of the victims and said the tragic loss deeply saddened him.
https://twitter.com/revanth_anumula/status/1971980737072214104
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday night paid a visit to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Karur, where several people injured in the tragic stampede were undergoing treatment. Stalin met and interacted with the injured and their families who had lost their loved ones. As per ANI's latest update, he also offered floral tributes in memory of the deceased
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: Stalin leaves for Karur by road
Tamil Nadu CM Stalin has left for Karur by road from Trichi. He will be meeting the survivors of the stampede and is also expected to meet the families of the victims.
#watch | Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin lands in Trichy from Chennai, heads to Karur by road.
As per the DGP in charge of Tamil Nadu, G. Venkatraman, 38 people have lost their lives in the stampede incident during a public event of TVK (Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam) chief and actor Vijay,… pic.twitter.com/9fFtZzMZSl
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: 'Organisers arranged ground for 10,000 people, nearly 27,000 gathered,' says Tamil Nadu DGP
On the Karur stampede, Tamil Nadu’s acting DGP G. Venkatraman described the incident as deeply tragic. He said 38 people died, including 12 men, 16 women, and 10 children. The police have reviewed their response to the incident. Earlier TVK rallies had smaller crowds, but this time far more people attended than expected. Although organisers had arranged a large ground for around 10,000 people, nearly 27,000 gathered. Over 500 police personnel were deployed at the venue where Vijay was to speak.
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: 'Crowds started assembling as early as 11 am,' says Tamil Nadu DGP
Tamil Nadu’s acting DGP G. Venkatraman said the Karur stampede happened after large crowds began gathering hours before the scheduled meeting. The event was officially allowed from 3 pm to 10 pm, but people started arriving around 11 am and waited for hours without enough food or water. While actor Vijay appreciated the police efforts, he also noted that party workers should manage the crowd. Venkatraman added that the police cannot be expected to match their numbers to the entire crowd of 27,000. The exact cause of the tragedy will be determined by an ongoing inquiry, and a one-person commission has already been set up to investigate.
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: 'This was a serious mistake, such events should be carefully planned,' says eyewitness
Eyewitness Nanda Kumar described the stampede as a tragic event. He said the crowd could not be controlled and that the delay in actor Vijay’s arrival contributed to the chaos. Many people had come with children, were hungry, or faced other difficulties, all hoping to see the star. He emphasized that such incidents must be prevented in the future, noting that even with safety measures, it is hard to manage when far more people show up than expected. He urged that events like this be carefully planned and hoped the Tamil Nadu government provides proper support to those affected.
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin offers 'deepest condolences'
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin expressed sorrow over the lives lost at TVK chief and actor Vijay's rally which turned into a stampede on Saturday. " The reports of lives lost due to being trapped on a crowd in Karur are causing immense sorrow. I convey my deepest condolences and comfort to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident," he wrote on X.
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: Stalin arrives at Trichy airport
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has arrived at Trichy airport. Once he arrives in Karur, he will be going to meet the survivors and the families of victims who were killed in the TVK rally stampede
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: 38 people killed, including 16 women and six children, reports IE
According to India Express, 38 people have died, including 16 women and six children, while more than 100 others are admitted to hospitals in Karur and Trichy, with many in critical condition. Dr. D. Sundaresan, a professor at Karur Medical College told IE that 48 patients, out of which 23 being men and 25 being women, are currently receiving treatment there.
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: Anbil Mahesh breaks down seeing the aftermath of the stampede - See video
Amid the tragic events, Minister Anbil Mahesh was seen crying at the hospital. The visuals of him breaking down have been doing the rounds of social media. It is evident that the heartbreaking situation has affected everyone deeply, including former Minister Senthil Balaji, who is helping with relief efforts alongside him. Both were clearly moved by the sorrow around them.
"முப்போதோட நிக்கணும்"
கரூரில் விஜய் கூட்டத்தில் சிக்கி இறந்த குழந்தைகளை பார்த்து கதறி அழுத அமைச்சர் மாண்புமிகு @Anbil_Mahesh அவர்களை தேற்றிய திமுக மாவட்ட செயலாளர் @V_Senthilbalaji அவர்கள். #karurstampede pic.twitter.com/FFbXce6V5M
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: 'Ambulances couldn't get in,' says eyewitness and survivor of the stampede
One of the eyewitnesses who was also present at TVK chief and actor Vijay’s public rally in Karur said that there was no space for the people present to even stand properly. "Ambulances couldn’t get in. There wasn’t enough space for people to stand. It took a very long time to bring people out," the eyewitness said.
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: Sitharaman gives 'deepest condolences' as at least 36 people die in Vijay's Karur rally
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed shock over the Karur stampede that claimed the lives of more than 30 people, including children. She said the incident occurred during a political gathering and that over 50 people have been injured and are receiving medical care. She offered her deepest condolences to the families of those who died and prayed for a full and speedy recovery for the injured. (The text has been roughly translated from Sitharaman's X post)
இன்று கரூரில் 30க்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் உயிரிழந்ததாக வரும் செய்தி மிகவும் அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கிறது. குழந்தைகளும் உயிரிழந்தாக தெரிவிக்கபடுகிறது.
ஒரு அரசியல் கூட்டத்தில் ஏற்பட்ட நெரிசலில் சிக்கியதால் இந்த உயிரிழப்பும், மேலும் 50 மேலானோர் காயமடைந்த நிலையில் மருத்துவநிலையங்களில் உள்ளனர்…
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: Stalin leaves for Karur
Tami Nadu CM MK Stalin has left Chennai for Karur. The stampede at TVK chief and actor Vijay’s public rally in Karur has left at least 36 people dead, including 6 children, according to PTI. Stay with us to get further updates on the situation.
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: Visuals coming in from Karur as families of victims gather
Families of the victims of TVK rally stampede have gathered and arrived at the government hospital. Here are the visuals coming in from Karur right now:
VIDEO | Family members of those who lost their lives in the stampede that took place during TVK chief Vijay's rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu.
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/EuBlc3CAWg
Vijay TVK rally stampede LIVE: 'Kerala stands with people of Tamil Nadu in this hour of grief,' says Pinarayi Vijayan
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed sorrow on Saturday over the stampede at TVK chief and actor Vijay's public rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, which killed at least 38 people. In a post on X, he said, "Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede that occurred in Karur, Tamil Nadu. Heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. Wishing a speedy and complete recovery to all those injured. Kerala stands with the people of Tamil Nadu in this hour of grief."