Overcrowded Karur rally stampede kills 31 at Vijay’s political event
Hyderabad: The Karur rally stampede that killed 31 people has highlighted the dangers of overcrowding at political events in Tamil Nadu. The tragedy unfolded on Saturday evening during a public meeting organised by Vijay’s political party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK).
Health Minister M.A. Subramanian said the dead included 16 women, nine men, and six children. More than 30 others were hospitalised, with fears that the casualty count may rise.
Political over-crowding linked to Karur rally stampede and rising casualties
Authorities had permitted only 10,000 attendees, while expecting around 50,000. But nearly 1.2 lakh people turned up, creating a crush too heavy for police to control. The crowd surge intensified after Vijay requested help to find a missing nine-year-old child. That moment triggered panic, leading to suffocation and collapse.
Several of the deceased had been waiting at the rally site for more than six hours. Reports confirmed that at least seven victims were TVK supporters. The sheer weight of the crowd made movement impossible, worsening the panic.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the event “deeply saddening,” offering condolences to families and prayers for the injured.
The tragedy has raised new questions about safety protocols at large-scale rallies in Tamil Nadu, where popular leaders often draw massive crowds. Experts say this incident could spark urgent reviews of crowd management guidelines in political events.
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