Karur stampede: Death toll climbs to 40, TVK moves Madras HC for independent probe

September 28, 2025

Karur: In the wake of the deadly stampede at actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President Vijay’s campaign rally in Karur, where the toll has risen to 40, the party has approached the Madras High Court seeking an independent and transparent investigation into the tragedy.

TVK Deputy General Secretary C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar said on Sunday that the party’s plea has been listed for urgent hearing before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday at 2.15 p.m.

“Our petition seeking an impartial and transparent probe into the Karur tragedy will be taken up for hearing before the Madurai Bench tomorrow afternoon,” Nirmal Kumar told reporters.

Earlier, a team of TVK lawyers led by Nirmal Kumar visited the residence of Justice M. Dhandapani to make an urgent mention, urging judicial intervention to ensure justice for the victims.

The team requested that the court direct an independent inquiry, citing the scale of the incident and the need for accountability in crowd management and safety arrangements.

The stampede occurred late Saturday evening during Vijay’s mass outreach rally at Velusamypuram in Karur.

Thousands had gathered since morning under intense heat, with limited food, water, and medical support. When Vijay’s arrival was delayed – he reached the venue around 7.40 p.m., though the party’s social media had hinted at an early appearance — sections of the crowd surged forward, triggering chaos. Victims were trampled and suffocated in the dense, narrow lanes leading to the venue. Nine of the dead were children; most of the others were women. Over 60 remain under treatment at government and private hospitals.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who rushed to Karur past midnight, expressed deep anguish and said such a tragedy should never happen again. He announced that a judicial commission led by retired Justice Aruna Jagadeesan will probe the incident thoroughly.

Stalin also declared Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh to the injured.

Leader of Opposition and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami visited the injured and accused the state of serious lapses in security planning. “Proper crowd control and safety protocols were ignored. This is a man-made disaster,” he charged, urging the government to fix accountability.

With the death toll climbing and public anger intensifying, the coming days are expected to see sharper political confrontation even as the judiciary steps in to determine responsibility for one of Tamil Nadu’s worst public tragedies in recent memory.

இதயம் நொறுங்கிப் போய் இருக்கிறேன்; தாங்க முடியாத, வார்த்தைகளால் சொல்ல முடியாத வேதனையிலும் துயரத்திலும் உழன்று கொண்டிருக்கிறேன்.

கரூரில் உயிரிழந்த எனதருமை சகோதர சகோதரிகளின் குடும்பங்களுக்கு என் ஆழ்ந்த அனுதாபங்களையும், இரங்கலையும் தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கிறேன். மருத்துவமனையில் சிகிச்சை…

— TVK Vijay (@TVKVijayHQ) September 27, 2025

What Lead to this Deadly Stampede

The death toll may rise further as some remain critical. The state government has announced a one-member judicial commission to investigate the incident.

Retired Madras High Court judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan will lead the inquiry and submit findings “as early as possible”, Stalin said.

Asked whether TVK chief Vijay could face action, the Chief Minister stated that “further steps will depend entirely on the Commission’s report.”

Questions have been raised about whether the meeting was held on an inadequately narrow road that was unable to accommodate the surge of attendees.

CM Stalin did not comment on the suitability of the venue but assured that accountability will follow once the probe concludes.

In the immediate aftermath, the government rushed senior ministers and medical teams to Karur. Emergency care units were set up to treat the injured, and additional ambulances and rescue personnel were deployed.

The tragedy has sparked a wave of grief across Tamil Nadu, with condolences pouring in from political leaders cutting across party lines. Safety arrangements at political gatherings are now under sharp scrutiny as the state reels from one of its deadliest crowd disasters in recent years.

Actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay on Sunday announced an ex gratia of Rs 20 lakh each to the families of those killed and Rs two lakh to those injured in the catastrophic stampede in Karur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced financial assistance for the victims of the tragic stampede at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, where at least 39 people, including children and women, lost their lives and dozens were injured. In a message of condolence, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be given to the next of kin of each person who died in the accident. Those injured will receive Rs 50,000 each to support their medical treatment and recovery.

“The Prime Minister is deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the unfortunate incident at Karur. He has approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who lost their lives and Rs 50,000 each for the injured,” the PMO said in a statement.