Karur Stampede: When Politics, Poor Planning, and Tragedy Collided
Ironically, just weeks before the rally, Vijay had warned of the dangers of being forced into cramped spaces.
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The sun was setting over Karur on Saturday, 27 September, when a rally by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), meant to showcase actor-turned-politician Vijay’s influence, ended in tragedy.
The day would be remembered not for the cheers of supporters, but for the cries of grief, as at least 39 people lost their lives and dozens more were injured, crushed under a crowd that had swelled far beyond the venue’s capacity.
Permissions, Overcrowding, and a Warning Ignored
Ironically, just weeks before the rally, Vijay had warned of the dangers of being forced into cramped spaces.
“They are pushing us into narrow places where the crowd can’t even breathe. What are you (DMK government) expecting us to do? If something happens, who will take responsibility?” he had said.
At the time, his words were dismissed as political rhetoric. Today, they read like a grim premonition. TVK had applied for larger venues in Namakkal and Karur, hoping to host thousands safely. But the police allegedly granted only smaller spaces.
The approved venue itself was a narrow 30-foot road near Karur bus stand, with a single entrance, a few exits, barricades blocking escape routes, no emergency corridors, and almost no medical support.
Police said the party was permitted to hold the meeting between 3 pm and 10 pm, but TVK’s official handle announced Vijay’s arrival at noon, drawing crowds from 11 am.
As hours passed without his appearance, the crowd grew restless. When his vehicle finally arrived nearly eight hours later at around 7:40 pm, the sudden surge began as cadres pushed in to join the waiting supporters.
Only 500 personnel were deployed for crowd control, with police stressing that organisers shared responsibility for safety under their undertaking.
“We couldn’t breathe. I saw women collapsing, but we couldn’t move to help them,” recalled a young man N Suresh from Karur.
A survivor, V Malathy added,
Small Lives, Big Loss: 10 Children Die in Karur Stampede
The stampede resulted in the heartbreaking deaths of at least 10 children, including a two-year-old boy named Dhuru Vishnu.
Dr Nandhini Devi, a psychiatrist from Coimbatore, called this "the most tragic aspects of the Karur stampede".
"Large rallies and crowded public events are inherently unpredictable, and the physical risks to children are far higher than to adults. Their smaller size, limited ability to navigate chaos, and dependence on adults for guidance make them especially vulnerable in surging crowds," she added.
While families’ eagerness to let children see their favourite star is understandable, such choices must be weighed against the dangers of overcrowding and sudden panic, she said.
Organisers and authorities, she added, have a duty to ensure child safety through crowd control, safe zones, and strict advisories.
Failures Across the Board
The tragedy at Karur was not merely an accident. It was the result of systematic failures at every level organisers, law enforcement, and leadership. Each played a role in creating the conditions that turned what should have been a political rally into a scene of panic and death.
The organisers of the TVK rally gravely underestimated the turnout. What was planned as a gathering for 10,000 people quickly became a crowd of over 30,000. Barricades, meant to manage the flow of people, collapsed under the pressure, turning crowd control measures into hazards themselves.
Entry and exit points were limited and poorly designed, and there was no plan to disperse the crowd safely.
Emergency corridors were absent, and medical facilities were not positioned to respond to a sudden surge.
Law enforcement and the district administration, who were supposed to act as a safety net, were also underprepared.
Vijay’s delayed arrival only worsened tensions. Hours of waiting in an overcrowded venue fueled anxiety and restlessness, and when the surge came, leaders deflected blame with conspiracy theories instead of taking responsibility.
A survivor, Muthusamy Gounder, who is being treated at Karur Government Hospital for injuries, described the situation, “We kept shouting to open the barricades, a few policemen present there started to lathi-charge us."
A local resident, he said, “They could have managed the crowd better, but no one seemed to care about the people waiting in the heat and suffocating crush. Everyone, from organisers to the authorities, shared the blame.”
A police official at the site added, “Even with our presence, we could not anticipate the merging of volunteers and waiting supporters after such a long delay. The surge was sudden, and there was no clear route for evacuation. We were helpless once the crowd started pressing forward.”
The Aftermath and Political Optics
In the immediate aftermath of the Karur tragedy, Chief Minister MK Stalin rushed to the town, held an emergency meeting with top officials, and visited the hospital in the early hours of Sunday.
Youth Welfare Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who was on a personal trip to Dubai, cut it short to return, signalling the government would not appear indifferent.
Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, from the central region, was visibly emotional, breaking down while consoling families. Videos of his reaction circulated widely on television and social media, underscoring the DMK’s attempt to project empathy and responsibility.
In response, TVK announced a larger compensation package of Rs 20 lakh for families of the deceased, positioning itself as a party that could go beyond the government in showing support. The Prime Minister’s Office also announced ex-gratia payments of Rs 2 lakh each, bringing the tragedy to national attention.
Amidst all this, the absence of Vijay himself drew attention. He did not stay in Karur for long, and later wrote on X,
VCK leader Vanniarasu criticised the decision, saying, “A leader’s first responsibility in such times is to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people.”
TVK defended Vijay, arguing that if he had visited immediately after the incident, it could have drawn even larger crowds, risking further chaos or another surge.
Conspiracy or Negligence?
Questions over the cause of the stampede continue to swirl. TVK’s social media suggested it “might have been planned.” S Arivazhagan, president of TVK’s advocates wing, told The Quint, “Right from the beginning, we were asking to provide a spacious place for the campaign. Permission was granted only a day before, though we submitted the list of required places 10 days before.”
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami added, “It cannot be dismissed as an accident,” pointing to the power cut during the rally and sudden movements of ambulances.
Senior journalist N Ravikumar said, "The victims of the Karur stampede are ordinary people, drawn by their love for a star or loyalty to a political leader. They should never be blamed. It is the solemn responsibility of the organisers and law enforcement to plan meticulously, manage crowds effectively, and ensure the safety of every individual who comes to participate."
The Karur town police have registered a case against TVK general secretary N Anand, also known as ‘Bussy’ Anand, and two others in connection with the stampede.
Looking Ahead: Politics in the Shadow of Tragedy
As the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections draw near, the Karur tragedy has rapidly become a focal point in the state’s political discourse.
The DMK, with Chief Minister Stalin at the forefront, is emphasising compassion and swift government response, highlighting hospital visits, compensation announcements, and the setting up of a one-man commission under retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan.
By projecting itself as the party that stands by victims, the DMK is seeking to reinforce its image of governance and empathy in the public eye.
This narrative positions TVK as a victim, while simultaneously trying to shield the party leadership, including Vijay, from political and moral criticism.
Statements from party functionaries and senior aides underscore this angle, emphasising that any closer engagement by Vijay could have escalated the crowd further, deflecting blame onto the administration.
The AIADMK is calling for a CBI probe and stricter crowd management scrutiny, criticising both the state government and TVK to position itself as a principled alternative focused on law, order, and public safety.
The tragedy seems to have opened up opportunities for subtle attacks and counterattacks. The DMK seeks to crush the Opposition narrative by highlighting its quick response, TVK attempts to delegitimise government oversight, and AIADMK pushes the narrative of independent investigation, all while the electorate watches closely.
The Karur incident is not isolated. Tamil Nadu has repeatedly seen stampedes at political and religious gatherings caused by overcrowding, unsafe barricades, poorly planned entry and exit points, and inadequate permissions.
Each time, inquiries are announced and compensation is given, lessons are rarely implemented.
The real question remains whether the shadow of Karur will trigger long-overdue reforms in rally planning, crowd management, and policing or whether political theatre and electioneering will continue to overshadow public safety, allowing tragedies like Karur to repeat in future campaigns.
(Vinodh Arulappan is an independent journalist with over 15 years of experience covering Tamil Nadu politics, socio-culture issues, courts, and crime in newspapers, television, and digital platforms. This is an opinion piece and the views expressed are the author's. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for the same.)