Karur (Tamil Nadu): At least 29 people, including children, are feared dead after a stampede-like situation broke out during Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, on Saturday. This figure is likely to shoot up,
The incident occurred as Vijay’s campaign vehicle crawled through a sea of supporters. The swelling crowd became uncontrollable, leading to several people, including party workers and children, fainting and falling.
Ambulances struggled to negotiate the jam-packed thoroughfares to reach the spot, and chaotic scenes were reported from local hospitals where many were admitted — some battling for their lives.
Vijay, who was addressing the crowd, stopped his speech midway, appealed for police assistance, and personally threw water bottles from atop the campaign bus to the fainting supporters. He later ended his speech earlier than scheduled. A child was reported missing.
Police resorted to baton charges to disperse the gathering after the hospitalisation of several persons.
The rally also saw Vijay taking a veiled swipe at DMK’s former minister Senthil Balaji, saying Karur had become “all India famous” for the wrong reasons, and criticising the DMK government for failing to deliver its 2021 promise of building an airport in the district.
Videos widely shared on social media showed women performing ‘aarathi’ to welcome Vijay, and fans presenting gifts, including a bunch of bananas received by his security team.
Reactions to the rally were swift and divided online. Political analyst Sumanth C Raman said Vijay’s speech was “decidedly better today — more hard-hitting and less filmy.” Some users urged Vijay to acknowledge grassroots cadres in his speeches, while others said he should return to films.
