Karur: A public rally of led by actor-politician Vijay’s newly formed party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), ended in tragedy today when a massive stampede broke out among the crowd in Karur district, resulting in the deaths of 29 people. The incident occurred as a large number of supporters gathered to see the popular actor during his campaign event. Initial reports indicated that approximately 20 individuals had fainted and been hospitalized, but the situation escalated dramatically, with the death toll rising throughout the day and the condition of at least 50 admitted individuals reported as critical.
The stampede happened amid a huge turnout for Vijay, whose entry into politics has generated significant public excitement. While the exact trigger of the stampede is still under investigation, such incidents often occur in densely packed crowds due to sudden movements, panic, or a collapse at the front of the gathering. The overwhelming number of people exceeding the venue’s capacity is being considered a primary factor. Emergency services rushed to the scene to transport the injured to nearby hospitals, where medical staff are battling to save the critically wounded.
Chaos and Crisis Response as Death Toll Rises
What was initially reported as a minor incident involving 20 people fainting quickly spiraled into a major tragedy. The local administration and hospital authorities have been overwhelmed by the scale of the casualty. A spokesperson from a private hospital confirmed that they are treating dozens of patients in critical condition, and the death toll is feared to rise further. The rapid increase from the initial figures points to the severity of the crush and the chaos that ensued at the rally site.