31 Dead in Stampede-Like Crush at Vijay’s TVK Rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur
PakkaHyderabadi 
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s Karur rally turned tragic as a massive crowd surge killed 31 people, including women and children, during Vijay’s campaign.
A massive election rally of Tamil actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), ended in tragedy on Saturday, September 27, when a sudden crowd surge left at least 31 people dead and around 40 injured in Karur district, western Tamil Nadu.
The death toll, confirmed by state health minister Ma Subramanian, includes 16 women, nine men, and six children. Officials described the incident as a “stampede-like crush” during the party’s ‘Velicham Veliyeru’ (Let There Be Light) campaign meeting.
The rally took place at Velusamypuram on the Karur–Erode highway, where tens of thousands had gathered. Eyewitnesses said trouble began around 7.45 pm when large groups of supporters surged toward the stage barricades to catch a glimpse of Vijay, causing panic and suffocation.
As chaos unfolded, several children were separated from their families. Many fainted or were trampled before volunteers and police could step in. Live television footage showed Vijay halting his speech, distributing water bottles to fainting fans, and appealing for calm. At one point, he was seen calling out for a missing child.
Ambulances struggled to enter the packed venue, forcing volunteers to form human chains to carve out paths for the injured. Victims were rushed to Karur District Headquarters Hospital, with others shifted to Erode and Tiruchirappalli medical colleges. Officials warned the toll could rise as many remain in critical condition.
Authorities said the crowd far exceeded expectations. While permission had been granted for 30,000 participants, reports suggest nearly 60,000 people attended, traveling from nearby districts by foot, tractors, and buses. The venue had already been shifted once from central Karur over safety concerns, yet the new site too was overwhelmed.
Police restrictions — including barricades, separate entry and exit points, and bans on roadshows or extra LED screens — proved insufficient. Senior officers admitted the arrangements failed under the unexpected turnout, with choke points forming at entry gates and barricades collapsing under the pressure.
The district administration has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the tragedy. Relief measures are being rolled out, including a proposed solatium of ₹5 lakh for families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is expected to visit Karur on Sunday, while opposition parties AIADMK and BJP blamed both the government and TVK for negligence.
For Vijay’s fledgling party, the tragedy is a major setback. TVK had been gaining momentum since its strong debut in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where it polled close to 10% of the vote. The Karur rally was part of a state-wide grassroots tour ahead of the 2026 assembly polls, seen as a test of Vijay’s ability to convert his fan following into political strength.
Political observers note that Saturday’s tragedy underscores the risks of Tamil Nadu’s cinema-politics culture, where rallies often attract uncontrollable crowds. For many grieving families, however, the frenzy ended in silence. As one mother who lost her 12-year-old daughter said: “We came to see Vijay sir, but we are taking back only sorrow.”
