Karur, Tamil Nadu: A massive crowd surge at actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur on Saturday evening resulted in a devastating tragedy, leaving over 30 people dead and many others critically injured.
The rally, part of Vijay’s statewide “Velicham Veliyeru” (Let There Be Light) campaign, drew an unexpectedly large turnout. Authorities had permitted around 30,000 attendees, but the crowd swelled to nearly twice that number, according to reports.
Around 7:30 pm, as Vijay began addressing the crowd, sections of the audience surged forward, leading to a stampede-like situation. Witnesses reported people fainting due to suffocation and heat, while others were trampled in the chaos.
Emergency Response
Ambulances rushed victims to hospitals in Karur, Erode, and Tiruchirappalli, which quickly became overwhelmed. Additional doctors and medical staff were deployed from neighboring districts. Police and volunteers formed human chains to clear paths for emergency vehicles.
Vijay, visibly shaken, paused his speech, appealed for calm, and personally distributed water bottles to those in distress. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed deep sorrow, announced a magisterial inquiry, and promised compensation for victims’ families.
Opposition leaders criticized the lack of crowd management, calling for accountability from both organizers and local authorities.
This was one of Vijay’s largest rallies since launching his political party earlier this year, as he prepares for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The tragedy has sparked urgent conversations about safety protocols at mass political gatherings in the state.
