Following the tragic stampede in Karur, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to offer his sympathies. Chief Minister Stalin took to X to share details of their conversation and thanked Gandhi for his concern.
Stalin’s X post read: “My dear brother Thiru Rahul Gandhi, thank you for contacting me on the phone and for expressing your deep concern about the tragic incident in Karur and for sincerely inquiring about the steps taken to save the lives of those being treated.”
The stampede took place during a public meeting organized by actor-turned-politician Vijay Thalapathy in Karur on Saturday. The event resulted in 40 deaths and more than 70 injuries. Overcrowding and insufficient exit points were cited as major contributing factors to the chaos. Rumors regarding a missing child also reportedly played a role in the stampede.
The state government has pledged financial support to the families of the deceased and to those seriously injured. A dedicated medical team has been established to provide care to the injured, and hospitals across the region are on high alert. Furthermore, actor Vijay has also announced financial aid, offering ₹20 lakh to the families of the deceased and ₹2 lakh to the injured.
The opposition parties have criticized the Stalin government’s handling of the Karur incident. Leaders from AIADMK and BJP, the prominent opposition parties in the state, have expressed their grief and also raised concerns about how the government allowed such a large gathering to proceed. They have accused the government of negligence, which they claim led to the disaster.
Chief Minister Stalin has initiated a high-level committee to investigate the incident. This committee will evaluate the crowd management arrangements in place during the event and determine which officials bear responsibility for any failings. The police are gathering video evidence and witness statements from the site of the incident.