Karur stampede: Overcrowding, delay or negligence; What really caused 39 deaths?

The Karur stampede at Vijay’s TVK rally has left 39 dead, but the reasons remain under fire, overcrowding, late arrival, and poor safety fuel a storm of accusations.

A wave of grief and anger has engulfed Tamil Nadu after a deadly stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur claimed 39 lives and injured more than 50 yesterday. But what exactly caused the chaos remains bitterly contested.

Also Read:Vijay breaks silence after Karur stampede tragedy, CM Stalin rushes to ground zero

The rally, meant for just 10,000 attendees, drew over 50,000, packing the venue beyond capacity. Hours of waiting turned restless when Vijay arrived nearly six hours late. With police unable to contain the swelling crowd, panic escalated. Eyewitnesses described people gasping for breath, children being separated from families, and in the frenzy, a sudden power cut and attempts at lathi-charge pushed the situation into collapse.

As families mourn their losses, the political blame game has erupted. DMK leaders point fingers at organisers for mismanagement, while Vijay’s supporters allege government negligence, accusing the ruling party of deliberately failing to provide adequate security. Some opposition voices have even demanded Vijay’s arrest, citing his delayed appearance as a trigger for unrest.

Also Read:Stampede at Vijay’s TVK rally in Karur: 39 dead, over 50 injured

The Karur tragedy has thus transformed from a shocking disaster into a political battlefield. As investigations unfold, unanswered questions loom: Was it overcrowding? Was it the delay? Or was it sheer negligence? For the victims’ families, these questions demand urgent answers.