Tamil Nadu CM announces inquiry commission, compensation for victims, and vows strict action after the devastating Karur incident
Karur (Tamil Nadu), September 28: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed profound grief and shock after the devastating stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Karur, which claimed 39 lives and left dozens critically injured. Calling it the “worst tragedy of its kind in the history of our State,” Stalin said he was heartbroken and vowed that such an incident must never be repeated.
Addressing reporters, CM Stalin said, “I am standing here with deep sorrow. I am unable to describe the horrific accident that took place in Karur. Yesterday, around 7:45 pm, while I was in Chennai, I received the news of the tragedy. Immediately, I called former minister Senthil Balaji and instructed him to rush to the hospital. As soon as I learned the death toll, I directed nearby ministers to move to Karur and monitor relief efforts.”
Confirming the death toll at 39, Stalin added that 51 injured persons are currently undergoing treatment in the ICU. The Chief Minister announced an ex-gratia of ₹10 lakh to each bereaved family and ₹1 lakh for the injured. He further ordered the formation of an inquiry commission headed by a retired High Court judge to investigate the incident.
“So far, 39 people have died. In the history of our state, never has such a large number of people lost their lives in a program organised by a political party. Such a tragedy should never happen again. The truth will come out through the inquiry commission. I will not make any political comments, but once the facts are revealed, strict action will be taken,” Stalin assured.
Late on Saturday night, CM Stalin personally visited the Government Medical College and Hospital in Karur, where he met injured victims and their families. He also offered condolences to grieving families and paid tribute to the deceased before proceeding to assess relief operations on the ground.
The tragedy, which unfolded at TVK chief Vijay’s rally due to overcrowding and panic, has sparked widespread mourning across Tamil Nadu and has placed questions on crowd management and safety measures at political gatherings.