Chennai: A devastating stampede occurred during an election campaign rally organized by actor and TVK party chief Vijay in Karur, Tamil Nadu, claiming more than 38 lives, including women and children, and injuring over 65 people. Following the incident, police have registered a case against Vijay, and the Election Commission has ordered the formation of a special inquiry committee to investigate the tragedy.
VIDEO | TVK leader Vijay pauses speech in Karur, distributes water to people, arranges for ambulance for those in the crowd feeling suffocated.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/uCBNuilCBZ
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 27, 2025
Officials cited three main factors contributing to the disaster. The rally, which had permission for only 10,000 attendees, saw an estimated 30,000 to 60,000 supporters and party workers turn up. Vijay, scheduled to arrive at noon, was delayed by nearly six hours and reached the venue after 7 PM. The combination of overcrowding and prolonged waiting in a confined space triggered panic among the attendees.
The campaign was supposed to start in Karur at 12, and even by 2 PM barely 4,000 people had shown up. If he had simply followed his schedule and respected police instructions, none of this would have happened.
But no, when you board a flight at 8:45 am at Chennai for an 8:30 am… pic.twitter.com/d1xyx6JCYT
— Bad Boss (@StoryTimeWithK) September 28, 2025
Security lapses further worsened the situation, with inadequate crowd control and insufficient personnel on duty. A sudden power outage during Vijay’s speech plunged the area into darkness, leading to chaos and causing people to run in all directions. Ambulance access was severely hampered due to the congestion. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed deep grief over the incident and ordered a detailed investigation. Police have filed cases against TVK party officials, particularly the Karur district secretary, while Vijay described the tragedy as “heartbreaking.”