Large gatherings in India have often caused tragic accidents, showing that event safety is still a big concern. Today, at actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Karur for his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) several people collapsed amid the commotion and were quickly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Authorities are currently assessing the situation, and more details are awaited. Former Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader V Senthil Balaji stated that 31 people have died and 58 people have been admitted to hospital.
Reacting to the incident, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin described it as concerning. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he mentioned that he has instructed Ministers V. Senthilbalaji and Ma. Subramanian, along with the District Collector, is to ensure immediate medical care for those affected by the crowd surge.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragic incident that occurred during a political rally in Karur. In a post on X, he wrote, “The unfortunate incident during a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. Wishing strength to them in this difficult time. Praying for a swift recovery to all those injured.”
This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. On December 4, 2024, at Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 premiere in Hyderabad, a rush of fans led to the death of a woman and serious injuries to her young son. The police arrested Arjun, the theatre staff, and security, but the movie’s producers were not held.
Earlier this year on June 4, during celebrations of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL first win in Bengaluru, 11 people died and 56 were hurt because of crowd pressure.
Today’s Karur tragedy reminds us that have we learned from past accidents, or will they happen again? These accidents show that safety rules and crowd control are still not enough.
