Stampede at Vijay rally leaves at least 38 dead, dozens injured in Tamil Nadu

What began as a charged campaign evening for Tamil superstar-turned-politician Vijay ended in unspeakable tragedy on September 27 night, as a stampede at his rally in Karur claimed at least 38 lives, including 16 women and eight children. More than 150 others were injured, several critically, with hospitals in Karur and Trichy overwhelmed through the night.

The chaos erupted shortly after 7.30 pm when branches of a tree — climbed by dozens of supporters eager to glimpse the actor-politician snapped, sending people crashing onto the densely packed crowd below. The sudden collapse sparked panic, with waves of people surging in the darkness, crushing men, women, and children underfoot.

Ambulances struggled to push through the sea of bodies as Vijay, addressing the gathering from a campaign van just 50 metres away, remained unaware of the unfolding disaster. He left the stage soon after and returned to Chennai, reportedly informed of the deaths only during a stop in Trichy en route to catch a late-night flight.

The state government announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh each for the families of the deceased and authorised the transfer of patients to both government and private hospitals, including Apollo, to expedite treatment. Chief Minister M K Stalin, visibly shaken, left Chennai past midnight to personally oversee relief operations in Trichy.

Health Minister Ma Subramaniam issued an urgent call: “All available doctors must report immediately.” Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and senior police officials also rushed to Karur to coordinate rescue and medical aid.

Police officials said permission for the event had been granted only from 3 pm, but the organisers’ early social media announcements had drawn crowds from as early as 10 am. By evening, restlessness had set in after hours of waiting in an overcrowded ground. The tragedy, officers said, underscored the very security concerns for which restrictions had earlier been imposed.

The rally followed a hectic day of Vijay’s campaign trail, which has seen mounting confrontations with the DMK government. At earlier rallies in Trichy and Ariyalur, he accused the administration of muzzling his campaign — alleging cut microphones, dimmed lights, and instructions not to wave or smile too much. In Karur, even as he began his speech thanking the police, he ended up once again blaming them for “unnecessary restrictions.”

Condolences poured in from across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident “deeply saddening,” while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged his party workers to extend all support to the victims’ families. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to both the Governor and the Chief Minister, assuring all help from the Central government.

Chief Minister Stalin has ordered a judicial probe led by retired High Court judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan. The Union Home Ministry has sought a detailed report from the state.

Recent stampede, among the deadliest in Tamil Nadu’s political history, has not only shaken the foundations of a high-stakes election campaign but also left families across Karur and Trichy in grief that no relief package can ever mend.