A stampede in Karur, Tamil Nadu, during a rally addressed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and actor Vijay, claimed 39 lives on Saturday.
⚡ Incident Details
- The tragedy unfolded when the crowd far exceeded the expected turnout, leading to panic and collapse as people surged forward.
- Vijay was forced to pause his speech amid the chaos.
- Several victims, including children, were killed, while many others were injured.
💬 Political Reactions
- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed deep anguish, calling the event “tragic and painful” and raising alarm over systemic failures in crowd management.
- He noted that such incidents recur “every year” and recalled similar past tragedies in Bengaluru.
- Tharoor stressed the urgent need for a national framework of safety protocols and rules to prevent stampedes at rallies, religious gatherings, and public events.
- He urged both the Centre and state governments to adopt strict procedures for large gatherings to ensure public safety.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed condolences, announcing an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each for families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured through the PM’s National Relief Fund.
Significance
The incident has reignited debate on public safety, crowd control, and accountability in India’s mass gatherings, where political, cultural, and religious events often see overwhelming attendance but inadequate safety measures.
