Chennai, Sep 27 (UNI) At least 33 people were killed and more than 50 were undergoing treatment during a stampede at actor-turned politician and Tamila Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Founder Vijay’s public outreach programme at Karur, ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls, turned tragic tonight.
Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian initially put the toll at 29 and 50 were under treatment in Karur government hospital and private hospitals.
Meawhile, talking to reporters after visiting the hospital and meeting the injured, former Minister V Senthilbalaji offcially confirmed that 33 people have died in the tragedy and all emergency measures aere being taken to prevent further increase in the casualty figures.
He said more number of doctors from neighbouring districts like Trichy and also from Salem and other areas were mobilised and asked to rush to Karur to treat those injured.
Reports said as the event progressed, several people fainted in the crowd and complained of giddiness and breathlessness and were rushed to the Karur Medical College Hospital and private hospitals nearby.
The deceased included women and children and the tragedy occurred immediately after Vijay let the venue after his short address.
The identity of the deceased was yet to be established as the turnout was so massive and unprecedented and far outnumbered the turnout witnessed in the first leg at Trichyon September 13 and the second leg at Nagpattinam on September 20and at Namakkal districr earlier in the day, as thousands of people from various districts, including neighbouring districts have turned up at the rally, that resembled a tsunami of human convergence.
Chief Minister M K Stalin, who spoke to Karur District Collector and reviwed the situation, said reports emerging from Karur were worrisome and has directed Senthilbalaji, Health Minister and Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi to provide all assistance to those injured and admitted to the hospitals.
Mr Stalain, who will be visiting Karur tomorrow to take stock of the situation, meet the injured and console the families of the deceased, also directed ADGP Law and Order to rush to Karur to restore normalcy, while deputing Collectors from neighbouring districts to go to Karur to assist in relief operations.
He also directed the hospital authorities to provide best of treatment to all those hospitalised.
In a late night development, Mr Stalin reviewed the Karur situation at an emrgency high level meeting at the State Secretariat.
Meanwhile, Mr Senthilbalaji, talking to reporters after visiting the injured at the hospital, said there were enough doctors, including paediatrics and all doctors are on duty. More doctors from neighbouring districts are rushing to Karur and there ere enough stock of medicines.
“All steps are being taken to prevent more deaths”, and private hospitals, where some of them were rushed for treatment, not to charge any fees from them.
Meanwhile, PMK President Dr Anbumani Ramadoss expressed shock and worrisome over the tragedy and demaned a high level probe into the incident.
In a statement here, hes aid this tragedy could never be justified and blamed lapses on the part of the police in manging the crowd situation.
Apart from ordering a high level probe, the state government should take steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents, while demanding a compensation of Rs ten lakh each to the families of the deceased and wished all the injured a speedy recovery.
