Tamil Nadu: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will visit Karur on Monday to meet survivors and families of those killed in the devastating stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) rally. The tragedy, which struck on September 27 in Velayuthampalayam, claimed 41 lives and left more than 50 people injured.
Sitharaman will be joined by Union Ministers L. Murugan and Nainar Nagendran. The delegation is expected to visit hospitals, interact with those injured, and offer condolences to the bereaved families.
According to officials, the stampede occurred after a massive crowd surged forward at the conclusion of Vijay’s address. The sudden rush led to chaos and a deadly crush inside the overcrowded venue. Several of the victims were women and children, and doctors say some of the injured remain in critical condition.
Leaders across the political spectrum have expressed grief. President Droupadi Murmu said she was “deeply pained” by the loss of lives, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the PMNRF.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin visited the site and met survivors at the Government Medical College Hospital, announcing a compensation of ₹10 lakh for each bereaved family. He also ordered a judicial probe headed by retired High Court judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan to ascertain the cause of the tragedy and recommend crowd-control measures for future political events.
Opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) offered condolences but blamed the state government for poor crowd management, urging the implementation of stricter safety protocols.
TVK president Vijay, who appeared visibly shaken, described the incident as an “irreparable loss” and announced a compensation of ₹20 lakh to the families of the deceased and ₹2 lakh to those injured, while appealing for calm.
Sitharaman’s visit highlights the Centre’s serious response to the tragedy, as Tamil Nadu continues to debate ways to ensure better safety and prevent such incidents at mass political gatherings.
