Actor-politician Vijay turned emotional on Monday as he met the families of the Karur stampede victims in Mahabalipuram, nearly a month after the tragic incident that left 41 people dead and over 60 injured. The closed-door meeting was marked by tears, apologies, and promises of long-term support.

‘I will care for you as my own,’ says Vijay

According to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) sources, Vijay met each of the 37 families individually and shared lunch with them at a resort where about 50 rooms had been booked. Overcome with emotion, he sought forgiveness for the incident, saying he could never truly compensate for their loss but would care for the affected families “as if they were his own.”

Vijay’s apology and promise to visit Karur

During the meeting, Vijay apologised for bringing the families to Mahabalipuram and explained that he could not travel to Karur earlier as he was denied permission by authorities. He assured them he would soon visit Karur to meet them personally.

Pledges of education, housing, and livelihood aid

Vijay promised the families financial support and assistance for education, self-employment, and housing. Party sources said the meeting lasted for more than three hours, with the leader spending time listening to each family’s concerns and grief.

Quiet arrangements for privacy

To maintain privacy and avoid public attention, TVK arranged for the families to be brought in five buses from Karur, about 400 km away, and instructed its cadres not to visit the venue.

A moment of closure amid grief

The meeting, held nearly a month after the September 27 stampede at a TVK event addressed by Vijay, offered a moment of closure for many of the grieving families. Party sources said the TVK chief is likely to resume his political outreach soon, which was temporarily halted following the tragedy.