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31 Dead, Over 50 Injured in Crowd Surge at Vijay’s Karur Rally

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Karur (Tamil Nadu)
  • Sep 27, 2025
  • 245

A massive crowd surge at actor-politician Vijay’s campaign rally in Velusamypuram, Karur, on Saturday evening spiralled into tragedy, leaving at least 31 people dead, including 16 women and six children, and over 50 others injured, officials said.

Vijay, who heads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), was campaigning in Namakkal and Karur districts. His Karur rally was scheduled for 12.45 pm, but the actor-politician arrived around 7.30 pm, hours behind schedule. By then, the crowd—estimated at over a lakh despite police permission only for 10,000—had swelled beyond control.

Eyewitnesses said chaos broke out as people surged toward barricades to catch a glimpse of Vijay. “People at the front started collapsing and children were screaming. It was suffocating,” said M. Selvi, a resident of Kulithalai who narrowly escaped.

As the situation worsened, Vijay halted his speech and appealed for calm. Volunteers distributed water bottles, but the police and organisers failed to contain the crush.

Minister V. Senthil Balaji confirmed the death toll at 31, adding that the injured were rushed to hospitals in Karur, Tiruchirappalli, and Erode. Doctors said most victims suffered crush injuries and respiratory failure.

Police sources alleged the TVK flouted guidelines by misreporting the expected crowd size. A case has been registered against TVK functionaries, and a probe is underway.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences, saying, “My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. Praying for a swift recovery to the injured.”

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who is expected to visit Karur on Sunday, said he has instructed health officials to provide immediate treatment.

Ambulances ferried dozens of victims to the Karur Government Hospital, where at least 18 were declared dead. Opposition leaders, including AIADMK’s Edappadi K. Palaniswami and PMK founder Ramadoss, have demanded accountability from both TVK organisers and the state government for the failure to ensure basic crowd safety.