Stalin Mourns Karur Stampede Victims, Orders Judicial Probe; Announces ₹10 Lakh Relief

Chennai, Sept 2025 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday expressed profound grief over the tragic stampede at the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) campaign rally in Karur, which claimed 36 lives and left more than 58 people injured. The victims included women, children, and elderly attendees.

The stampede occurred on Saturday night when thousands had assembled at Velusamipuram to hear TVK chief and actor-turned-politician Vijay address the gathering. A sudden surge in the tightly packed crowd triggered chaos, leading to a deadly crush that overwhelmed on-ground safety measures.

In a statement released late at night, Stalin extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved families. “This is an unprecedented tragedy. My heartfelt sympathies are with the families who have lost their loved ones. The government stands firmly by them in this hour of grief,” he said.

The Chief Minister announced an ex gratia relief of ₹10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund (CMPRF) for the families of each deceased victim. Those critically injured will receive ₹1 lakh each, while all medical expenses for the injured will be borne entirely by the government.

To ensure accountability, Stalin ordered a judicial inquiry commission headed by retired Madras High Court judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan. The commission will examine crowd management, safety preparedness, and administrative lapses, and submit a detailed report with recommendations to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Senior ministers, including School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and Health Minister Ma. Subramanian, rushed to Karur to oversee relief operations, coordinate medical care, and manage crowd control. Additional teams of doctors and paramedics from nearby districts were deployed, while special intensive care units were readied for critically injured patients. District Collectors from Tiruchirapalli, Namakkal, and Erode were also mobilised with emergency response teams.

The Chief Minister is scheduled to visit Karur tonight to console the grieving families and meet the injured at the Karur Government Medical College Hospital.

Meanwhile, police have cordoned off the venue and launched a parallel investigation into the circumstances leading to the collapse of crowd control. Officials have urged the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information as relief and medical operations continue.

The tragedy has sparked serious questions about safety protocols and preparedness at high-profile political events in the state.