NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin addressed the recent stampede at a rally for actor-turned-politician Vijay in Karur, which resulted in 41 deaths. In his remarks to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly, Stalin attributed the tragedy to poor crowd management and delays caused by Vijay’s late arrival, which led to significant congestion.
Stalin expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and announced that a total compensation of ₹4.87 crore has been allocated for the affected families. To investigate the incident, a One-Man Commission and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) have been established, alongside the creation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at preventing similar occurrences in the future.
Stalin criticized the event’s organizers for failing to provide sufficient facilities, including food, water, and sanitation, particularly for women. He explained that the police had requested the campaign vehicle to halt before entering the crowd, but the organizers did not comply, leading to chaos and asphyxiation, particularly among women and children.
“The campaign vehicle entered the crowd against police advice, leading to commotion. Some individuals sought shelter in the generator room, which resulted in the operator shutting it down. Upon request from the police, ambulances were dispatched, as none were arranged beforehand by the organizers,” Stalin elaborated.
Furthermore, Stalin condemned members of Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vetteri Kazhagam (TVK), for reportedly attacking two ambulances, which impeded rescue efforts; this behavior resulted in two arrests. He detailed that the state government acted promptly, with officials reaching Karur the same night to assist families and coordinate health services. “The first patient was admitted to the hospital at 7:47 PM,” he noted.
Describing logistical issues regarding the event scheduled for September 27, Stalin said the district secretary of TVK had sought permission for various meetings, but most requests were denied due to traffic concerns. Eventually, permission was granted for Veluchamy Puram with 11 specific conditions, leading to the deployment of 517 police personnel to ensure safety.
Vijay was reported to have arrived nearly seven hours later than the initially announced time of 12 PM, which caused overcrowding. Stalin indicated that while 606 officials and police were on duty that day—more than usual given the expected crowd—the discrepancy in timing led to many gathering well in advance.
The Chief Minister stated that the government had arranged for 400 additional hospital beds and deployed 152 healthcare personnel. All individuals hospitalized have since returned home, except for one case. Special permission was sought for autopsies due to a lack of space in the mortuary, a process which was expedited with a team of 24 doctors completing 39 autopsies within a specified timeframe.
In a subsequent development, the Supreme Court has ordered that the investigation into the Karur stampede be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a thorough and unbiased inquiry. The state government is prepared to act in accordance with the final verdict issued by the court.
“I have been in politics for 50 years and have always ensured adherence to rules and conditions during events. No leader desires the loss of their supporters; the lives of the people are of utmost importance,” Stalin concluded.
