Dozens Dead in Karur Rally Stampede

On Sept. 27, a stampede at actor‑turned‑politician Vijay’s TVK rally in Velusamipuram, Karur, Tamil Nadu, killed between 31 and 39 people and injured many, including children, overwhelming local hospitals. Officials and witnesses said a sudden crowd surge amid alleged overcrowding, power/floodlight failures, delayed arrivals and shortages of food and drinking water triggered the panic and hampered emergency access. Viral videos showing Vijay continuing to speak as people struggled and reportedly leaving quickly have intensified public outrage and prompted tightened security at his Chennai residence. Karur Town police have filed an FIR naming TVK’s Karur West secretary V.P. Mathiyazhagan under multiple IPC sections for alleged safety lapses, and the state has ordered a judicial inquiry led by retired Justice Aruna Jagatheesan while investigations continue to determine further culpability. The government announced ex‑gratia payments of Rs. 10 lakh to next of kin and Rs. 1 lakh to the injured, and traders in Karur staged shutdowns in solidarity. Senior political leaders and film personalities expressed condolences, and authorities said they are reviewing event permissions and crowd‑management procedures.