A political rally led by actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay in Tamil Nadu’s Karur turned tragic on Saturday evening, when a stampede killed 39 people and left at least 95 others injured. Eyewitness accounts and official responses present conflicting versions of what set off the chaos.

Chaos erupts at Vijay’s rally

The stampede happened around 7.30 pm, shortly after Vijay climbed atop his campaign vehicle to address thousands of supporters who had been waiting for hours under the evening heat. As people fainted in the tightly packed crowd, including women and children, cries for help went up, forcing the actor-politician to halt his speech mid-way.

Karur police said the incident began when the crowd surged forward, though the precise cause leading to the stampede remains under investigation.

Witness claims of lathi-charge

Some survivors alleged that police resorted to lathi-charge, sparking fear among the gathering. Speaking to Times of India, Ramesh V, who was present at the rally, recalled, “When Vijay sang the song criticising V Senthilbalaji as the '10-rupee minister', the crowd erupted. The energy shifted and suddenly the police began using lathis, and people panicked. Everyone started pushing forward, including parents holding babies. It was chaos.”

Another eyewitness, R K Nirmal, described a different trigger: “Everything was normal until Vijay came to the campaign venue. Suddenly, floodlights connected to a generator turned off. One woman started to search for her missing child. People panicked, and then everyone ran helter-skelter. I managed to evade the frenzy and save a few people. I saw some people trapped and stuck under vehicles.”

Police dismiss allegations

Tamil Nadu’s Director General of Police (in-charge) G Venkatraman strongly rejected claims of a lathi-charge. According to The Federal, in a late-night press conference, he called the incident “heartbreaking and utterly regrettable” but said reports of police using force were “malicious misinformation.”

“Our forces responded with utmost urgency to ensure public safety,” he said, noting that more than 2,000 personnel, including three inspectors general, had been deployed under Additional Director General of Police Davidson.

Venkatraman added that delays in the event contributed to the disorder. Permission had been granted for the rally between 3 pm and 5 pm, but Vijay only arrived around 7 pm. “It’s too early to draw conclusions. A high-level inquiry commission has been constituted, and its findings will provide clarity on all aspects,” he said.

Safety concerns and allegations

Health Secretary P Senthil Kumar confirmed that 39 people had died and 95 were injured in the crush. Critics pointed to serious lapses in planning. Advocate GS Mani accused both organisers and authorities of “gross negligence, absence of safety protocols, overcrowding, and failure… to ensure minimum safety standards.”

In a letter to Tamil Nadu’s Home Secretary, DGP and Karur SP, he alleged “Dereliction of duty by officials in granting permission, regulating the gathering, and safeguarding human lives. A potential cover-up, if the matter is investigated only by routine police mechanisms, given the political influence of those involved.”

He urged an FIR under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Disaster Management Act, and demanded an independent SIT headed by retired High Court judges.

Government response

Chief Minister M K Stalin travelled overnight to Karur to meet victims and console grieving families. “The loss of priceless lives has shaken the hearts of all of us. I express my deep condolences and sympathies to the families who face an irreparable loss,” he said.

He announced ex-gratia compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the dead and Rs 1 lakh for the injured, while assuring that all survivors would receive the “best treatment.”

Floral tributes were paid to the victims as Stalin said, “The anguish caused by the wails of the kin of those killed in the stampede and their tears has not gone away from my heart.”

Debate over venue choice

Questions also swirled around the rally’s location. Police said TVK initially sought permission for two cramped spots in Karur — LightHouse Corner and Uzhavar Market — which were denied due to safety concerns. Instead, the rally was allowed at Karur-Erode Road, a site district secretaries recommended, though authorities admitted it could accommodate only limited policing.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Governor R N Ravi and Chief Minister Stalin, seeking updates and promising all central support. The Union Home Ministry has also requested a full report from the state government.

(With inputs from agencies)