Tamil Nadu Stampede: A stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur on Saturday left at least 39 people, including nine children, dead and more than 50 injured. Police later revealed that the organisers had anticipated a gathering of about 10,000 people, but nearly three times that number turned up.
G Venkatraman, Director General of Police (DGP) in charge of Tamil Nadu, said that earlier rallies of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) had “smaller crowds.” However, this time, the turnout was “far higher” than expected.
He further said that the “reality” is that the crowd had already been “waiting for hours without sufficient food and water”, as Vijay arrived a few hours late at the venue.
“The permission for the meeting was given for 3 pm to 10 pm, but crowds started assembling as early as 11 am. By the time Vijay arrived at 7:40 pm., the crowd had already been waiting for hours without sufficient food and water. That is the reality. Vijay himself appreciated the police for their role but stressed that party cadres must take responsibility for crowd management. It does not mean the police should deploy numbers equal to the entire crowd of 27,000. The reasons behind the tragic incident will be revealed only after the inquiry. A one-person commission has already been established. Until then, I cannot comment further on it,” the DGP was quoted as saying by ANI.
He also said that a large number of police officers were deployed at the venue where Vijay was set to speak.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said on Sunday that never before in the “history of our State” have so many people lost their lives at an event organised by a political party.
CM Stalin told reporters, “I am standing here with deep sorrow. I am unable to describe the horrific accident that took place in Karur. Yesterday, around 7:45 pm, while I was in Chennai speaking with officials, I received the news that such an incident had occurred. As soon as I received the information, I called former Minister Senthil Balaji, asked him to inquire, and instructed him to go to the hospital. When I heard the news about the death toll, I instructed the nearby ministers to go to Karur.”
CM Stalin said the death toll was 39 and promised that such a tragedy “should never happen” again.
“So far, 39 people have died. In the history of our state, never has such a large number of people lost their lives in a program organised by a political party, and such a tragedy should never happen in the future either. Currently, 51 people are undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit. With a heavy heart, I pay homage to those who have lost their lives. A compensation of Rs 10 lakh will be provided to the families of the deceased. A compensation of Rs 1 lakh will be provided to those who were injured. I have ordered the formation of an inquiry commission headed by a retired High Court judge.”
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