Heartbreaking stories are emerging from the stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Karur. The chaos resulted in the loss of 40 lives, including children, teenagers, and the elderly. Among the deceased was 18-month-old Hari Vishnu, the youngest victim of the tragedy that occurred on Sunday. Vishnu’s father struggles to contain his tears, while his mother remains in a state of shock, seemingly unable to speak or hear. Vishnu was taken to the rally by his aunt, who resides in Velusamy Nagar. The main road in Velusamy Nagar, Karur, was packed with a massive crowd. Vishnu’s grandmother, Jayashree, shared the devastating news. She stated that all the family members who attended the rally were at the government hospital, where her grandson passed away. The family learned of his death by seeing him on television.
The scene at the rally ground, with hundreds of scattered shoes and party flags, vividly portrays the horror of the event. Among the 40 fatalities were 17 women and nine children. A couple who were scheduled to marry in October also perished in the stampede. The incident claimed the lives of the sole breadwinner of a two-year-old girl’s family and children like Vishnu, leaving behind only tears for their families. The stampede at actor Vijay’s Karur rally occurred when he arrived approximately six hours late for the event. By the time he reached the venue, a crowd of over 25,000 people had gathered. His arrival led to an uncontrollable surge in the crowd, escalating into the stampede. Inadequate organization by his party, Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), and insufficient police personnel for crowd management are cited as contributing factors.
