Karur Rally Stampede: Overwhelming Crowd Overwhelms Organizers, Leading to Casualties

The rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, organized by actor-politician Vijay, turned tragic when a stampede broke out, causing widespread chaos and claiming numerous lives. The event, which took place on Saturday, saw a far greater attendance than anticipated by the organizers. It was reported that the expected crowd size was around 10,000 people, but nearly 27,000 individuals showed up. This massive influx of people overwhelmed the event’s infrastructure and security arrangements, leading to the stampede. The incident resulted in the deaths of at least 39 people, including nine children, with over 50 more injured. According to the DGP, the large turnout was unexpected, particularly given the smaller crowds seen at previous TVK rallies. The DGP also noted that the crowd had been waiting for an extended period before Vijay’s arrival, lacking sufficient access to essential resources like food and water. The event was scheduled to take place between 3 pm and 10 pm, but the crowd started gathering as early as 11 am, resulting in the long wait times. Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed deep sorrow and stated the unprecedented nature of the tragedy in the state’s history. He announced immediate compensation measures for the affected families and initiated an inquiry to determine the causes behind the disaster.