Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin Addresses Assembly on Measures Taken Following Rally Incident
On October 15, 2025, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin spoke in the Assembly about the tragic stampede in Karur on September 27, which took the lives of 41 people during a rally by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay. The Chief Minister shared the steps the state government is taking and said a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is being prepared to prevent similar incidents in the future. Further action will follow the Supreme Court’s final judgment.
Event Permission and Crowd Management
Mr. Stalin explained that the TVK Karur West district secretary initially requested permission for several locations, all of which were denied due to safety and traffic concerns. On September 26, permission was granted to hold the event at Velusamipuram with 11 safety conditions.
Despite this, the rally faced major issues. The organizers had said the event would run from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., but media announcements brought people from 12 noon, while the leader arrived only at 7 p.m., causing a massive crowd buildup.
Security Measures Deployed During Karur Rally
The government deployed 517 police personnel from Karur, along with 99 additional officers from nearby districts. Three SPs, five DSPs, 18 Inspectors, 75 Sub-Inspectors, and armed police were present—more than what is usually assigned to political events.
However, basic arrangements like drinking water and food were missing, worsening the situation. Mr. Stalin contrasted this with a campaign meeting held two days earlier, which was well-managed despite a larger crowd.
Chaos at the Rally
As the area became overcrowded, police suggested moving the rally vehicle to Akshaya Hospital, but organizers insisted on the original venue. The crowd surged, leading to panic, suffocation, and injuries, particularly affecting women and children.
Some tried to escape by breaking a tin sheet near a generator, which caused the power to be cut off to prevent electrocution. Ambulances arrived quickly, but two drivers were assaulted, and one ambulance was damaged, slowing rescue efforts. Two FIRs were filed, and investigations are ongoing.
Immediate Government Response
Chief Minister Stalin and Health Minister Ma. Subramanian personally visited Karur the same night to meet affected families and coordinate relief. Over 200 injured people were admitted to Karur Government Medical College Hospital. Additional wards and 400 extra beds were set up, along with 152 medical staff to handle the situation.
Postmortems were conducted overnight for 41 victims. 13 men, 18 women, and 10 children. One person remains under treatment, while others have recovered.
Reflection and Future Precautions
Mr. Stalin emphasized that public events must follow laws and safety norms. When these are ignored, it is ordinary people who suffer. The Chief Minister offered his condolences and urged stricter adherence to safety rules in the future.
This tragedy may also impact TVK leader Vijay, as questions about the handling of the event and safety measures could affect public perception and trust in upcoming campaigns. It serves as a reminder to all political parties that crowd management and safety are crucial in every public gathering.
So sad that the poor people had to die