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Key Points

The Tamil Nadu government has appointed a new investigation officer following the devastating stampede during actor Vijay's rally in Karur. The tragedy has now claimed 41 lives as two more victims succumbed to their injuries overnight. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has ordered a judicial inquiry into the crowd management failures that led to the incident. Meanwhile, opposition leaders are blaming the government for inadequate security arrangements despite anticipating massive crowds.

Key Points: TN Appoints New Officer to Probe Vijay Karur Stampede Tragedy

  • Death toll rises to 41 with two more victims succumbing to injuries overnight
  • Massive crowd surge occurred as actor Vijay appeared at Veluchamipuram rally
  • Government replaces DSP Selvaraj with ASP Premanandan for independent probe
  • Opposition leader EPS blames inadequate crowd management for avoidable deaths
  • Judicial inquiry ordered into lapses in event security and planning
  • Vijay announces Rs 20 lakh compensation for families of each deceased victim
2 min read

Karur stampede: TN govt appoints new investigation officer

Tamil Nadu appoints ASP Premanandan to investigate Karur stampede that killed 41 during actor Vijay's rally, as judicial inquiry ordered into crowd management failures.

"This is an unbearable loss for Tamil Nadu. We have ordered a judicial inquiry and appointed a new senior officer to ensure accountability - CM M.K. Stalin"

Chennai, Sep 29

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday appointed Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Premanandan as the new investigating officer to lead the probe into the devastating stampede during the rally of TVK president and actor Vijay in Karur.

The move comes as the death toll rose to 41, with two more victims succumbing to injuries, while 67 others continue to receive treatment in various hospitals.

The tragedy unfolded on Saturday evening at Veluchamipuram, Karur, when thousands gathered to see Vijay, who had just concluded a campaign stop in Namakkal and arrived around 7 p.m.

Witnesses said the massive crowd surged forward as he appeared, triggering panic and chaos. Many were crushed or fainted as the stampede spread. Ambulances rushed through the night to take victims to hospitals.

Among the latest fatalities were Kavin, a young man who had been in the intensive care unit, and Suku­na, a local resident from Veluchamipuram. Their deaths pushed the toll from 39 to 41.

Officials said the decision to replace DSP Selvaraj, who initially led the probe with ASP Premanandan, is intended to bring greater independence and urgency to the investigation.

The government has also promised a thorough judicial inquiry into the lapses in crowd control and event management.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, expressing deep grief, said, “This is an unbearable loss for Tamil Nadu. We have ordered a judicial inquiry and appointed a new senior officer to ensure accountability and prevent such tragedies in the future.”

CM Stalin added that the state has announced compensation to the victims’ families and is closely monitoring the condition of the injured.

Opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) accused the government of failing to anticipate the massive turnout. “Despite knowing Vijay’s rally would attract thousands, there was inadequate crowd management and security. The government must take responsibility for these avoidable deaths,” he said.

TVK president Vijay, calling the loss “irreparable”, said he stands with the bereaved families and confirmed Rs 20 lakh compensation for each family of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for the injured. “No words can comfort this pain, but I share your grief,” he said.

The tragedy has sparked calls across parties for stricter safety protocols at political gatherings ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Changing the investigation officer is a good step but too little too late. The damage is already done. Political rallies need better crowd management systems. This could have been prevented with proper planning.
S
Sarah B
While I appreciate Vijay's compensation gesture, money can never replace lost lives. The focus should be on fixing the systemic failures that led to this tragedy. Judicial inquiry must be transparent and swift.
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Arjun K
As someone from Tamil Nadu, I've seen how political rallies attract massive crowds. The administration failed completely here. Hope this tragedy leads to permanent safety reforms for all public gatherings.
M
Michael C
Respectfully, while the government is taking action now, this feels like damage control. The initial response should have been faster. My thoughts are with the families who lost their loved ones in this terrible incident.
K
Kavya N
So many young lives lost 😢 This shows how important crowd management is in our country. We need to learn from this and ensure such tragedies never happen again. Proper barricades, crowd control teams are must!

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