Karur Stampede Tragedy: 41 Dead, Rahul Gandhi, Vijay Express Condolences, CM Stalin Announces New Public Event Guidelines
In a tragic turn of events at a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, at least 41 people, including children and women, lost their lives, while over 60 others were injured. The stampede occurred on September 27, 2025, during actor-turned-politician Vijay's rally, causing widespread shock and grief across the state.
Rahul Gandhi and Leaders Condole the Victims
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi personally called Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to enquire about the tragedy and the welfare of the injured. Gandhi also reached out to Vijay, conveying his heartfelt condolences for the loss of life among his supporters. Acknowledging the call on X (formerly Twitter), CM Stalin expressed gratitude and reiterated that all necessary measures were being taken to provide medical care and support to the victims’ families.
Vijay, deeply affected by the incident, announced a compensation of ₹20 lakh to each victim's family. The Tamil Nadu government also declared ₹10 lakh for the deceased and ₹1 lakh for the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other political parties, including the Congress and BJP, also pledged ex-gratia support for the affected families.
Thank you, my dear brother Thiru. @RahulGandhi, for reaching out to me over phone, conveying your heartfelt concern over the tragic incident in #Karur, and sincerely enquiring about the measures taken to save the precious lives of those under treatment.
— M.K.Stalin - தமிà®´்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) September 28, 2025
கரூà®°ில் நடந்துள்ள துயரச்…
Power Cut Controversy During the Rally
Amid growing controversy, a letter from TVK surfaced, showing the party requested a temporary power shutdown at the venue to ensure public safety, which was denied by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. Eyewitnesses stated that a brief power outage between 7 and 7:30 pm, combined with the crowd surge as Vijay arrived, contributed to the panic. A family of four reportedly died on the spot due to suffocation during the chaos.
The Tamil Nadu government, however, clarified that no official power cut occurred and that any dimming of lights was caused by generator issues arranged by the party. Officials emphasized that managing the crowd and ensuring safety was the responsibility of the organisers, as per the agreement with police.
Political and Public Reactions
The tragedy sparked a blame game between TVK and government officials, with allegations of conspiracy and safety lapses. TVK alleged that some local authorities and politicians were involved in creating the chaos, while the state government pointed to violations of police guidelines and poor crowd management.
CM Stalin to Frame New Guidelines for Public Events
In response to the Karur tragedy, CM Stalin announced that the Tamil Nadu government will frame rules and guidelines for public events once the Justice Aruna Jagadeesan Commission of Inquiry submits its report. The Chief Minister urged political parties and organisations to cooperate and emphasised that human lives take precedence over political differences. He also cautioned against spreading unverified claims on social media, calling for responsible communication during the sensitive time.
"We have lost 41 lives, including women and children," Stalin said. "It is our collective duty to prevent such incidents in the future and ensure public safety at all events."
Eyewitness Accounts
According to witnesses, chaos erupted shortly after 7:30 pm near the stage where Vijay was addressing the crowd. Some supporters climbed trees to get a better view, causing a sudden collapse and panic. The surge swept through the densely packed audience, tragically crushing men, women, and children.
The Karur district traders’ association also announced a complete shutdown in solidarity with the victims, highlighting the scale of grief and community support in the region.
Moving Forward
The Karur stampede has underscored the urgent need for clear public safety protocols for mass gatherings. With political leaders offering condolences, compensation being disbursed, and the government taking steps to frame event safety guidelines, the state hopes to prevent such tragedies in the future. Meanwhile, investigations continue to determine the exact causes and responsibilities associated with the incident.
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