Vijay Video Calls Families of Karur Stampede Victims
Actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay on Tuesday spoke via video call with the families of those who lost their lives in the Karur stampede. The tragic incident occurred during his political rally in Tamil Nadu last month. Vijay consoled the grieving families, assured them of continued support, and promised to personally visit Karur soon to pay his respects.
Actor Assures Support and Plans Visit to Karur
According to officials, Vijay has spoken to at least five families affected by the tragedy. During the emotional conversations, he expressed deep sorrow and said his team is coordinating relief efforts. The actor-politician, who recently launched TVK as a new political movement in Tamil Nadu, told families that he would soon meet them in person to extend both emotional and financial assistance.
Stampede Claims 41 Lives and Injures Over 60
The Karur rally stampede on September 27 claimed 41 lives and left over 60 injured. Authorities said nearly 30,000 people gathered at a venue meant for only 10,000, violating safety protocols. Officials added that inadequate crowd control, lack of food and water arrangements, and security lapses worsened the situation. The Tamil Nadu police have since launched a detailed probe into the incident.
Eyewitnesses Recall Chaos and Power Outage
Eyewitnesses reported that a power outage, overcrowding, and a sudden surge of people caused the deadly chaos. Vijay, who was scheduled to arrive at 12 PM, reached around 7 PM, by which time the crowd had swelled dangerously. When his campaign bus entered, many tried climbing poles and trees for a glimpse. In the chaos, several fainted, and police resorted to lathi charge to control the mob.
Vijay Announces Compensation for Victims’ Families
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Vijay announced a compensation of ₹20 lakh for each victim’s family and ₹2 lakh for the injured. He also suspended his statewide tour out of respect for the victims. The TVK leadership faced backlash for poor event management, prompting police to arrest TVK’s Karur West District Secretary Mathiyazhagan for negligence, while two senior party members were reported absconding.
Vijay Alleges Political Conspiracy Amid Probe
Facing criticism over the Karur tragedy, Vijay accused the ruling DMK government of a political conspiracy, claiming the stampede was deliberately mishandled. The MK Stalin-led DMK and Tamil Nadu Police denied the allegations, stating the chaos resulted from mismanagement within TVK. As the investigation continues, the incident has intensified political tensions in Tamil Nadu, testing Vijay’s emerging image as a responsible political leader.
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