Death Toll in Karur Stampede Rises to 41; Judicial Probe Begins
The death toll from a stampede at a political rally held by actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party in Karur, Tamil Nadu, has risen to 41, including women and children. Over 100 people are still being treated in hospitals. The incident occurred due to severe overcrowding. In response, the state government has constituted a one-member judicial commission headed by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan to investigate the tragedy. The TVK party has approached the Madras High Court alleging a conspiracy.
Unpacked:
Specific details on safety protocols at the rally have not been reported, but severe overcrowding suggests possible violations of crowd control and event management norms, which are typically required for large gatherings. The judicial commission will likely investigate these aspects as part of its mandate.
Vijay, a major Tamil film star, founded TVK in February 2024. TVK positions itself as a left-of-centre alternative challenging the dominance of DMK and AIADMK, emphasizing social justice, secularism, and youth empowerment.
TVK alleges that the stampede may have been orchestrated to undermine their political rise, though as of now, no substantive evidence has been made public. The party’s complaint is under judicial and court scrutiny.
The commission is tasked with investigating the causes of the stampede, reviewing event management, crowd control, and possible lapses by organizers or authorities. It will gather evidence, interview witnesses, and recommend actions or reforms based on its findings.