41 people, including women and children, died in a stampede at Vijay's rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu. Police cited a lack of crowd control and security at the rally as the main reason for the incident.
Tamil Nadu: 41 people lost their lives in a stampede at the rally of actor and TVK chief Vijay in Karur, Tamil Nadu. The incident included 18 women and 10 children. Police, in their FIR, described the event as a deliberate show of strength. The report also revealed that delays in Vijay's rally and a lack of security arrangements led to chaos, resulting in the tragedy.
Impact of Crowd and Delay at the Rally
According to the police, the rally was scheduled to start at 9 AM, and a large number of people had gathered by noon. Vijay's speech was set for 12 PM, but he arrived at 7 PM. This caused restlessness and tension among the crowd. During this time, party workers and supporters disregarded police instructions, leading to difficulties in crowd control.
Roof Collapse Incident
According to the FIR, the rally's promotion stopped at several places without permission. During this unplanned roadshow, TVK workers broke police barricades and climbed onto the tin roof of a shed. The collapse of the roof caused the immediate death of several people. Police stated that this incident was a result of the workers' disregard for safety and a lack of crowd management.
Safety Warnings Disregarded
Police claimed that warnings were issued prior to the event to make adequate arrangements for food, water, and security. However, party leaders ignored these warnings. This incident has intensified the political struggle, pitting the ruling DMK against Vijay's party, TVK. The TVK has called the incident a conspiracy and demanded a CBI investigation into the matter.
Stance of DMK and the Chief Minister
Meanwhile, the DMK rejected TVK's allegations, stating that they do not wish to politicize the incident. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin appealed for peace and urged against spreading rumors on social media. He stated that all possible assistance would be provided to the families of the deceased.
Questions Raised on Police as Well
TVK leaders accused the police of cutting off power and denying ambulances access to the crowd, which exacerbated the stampede. However, the electricity department refuted this, stating that the generators and lighting systems were disrupted due to the increasing crowd.
High-Risk Category
ADGP Davidson Devasirvatham stated that the event was categorized as high-risk, and 500 police personnel were deployed. However, approximately 27,000 people arrived in Karur, whereas permission was granted for only 10,000 attendees. The overwhelming crowd put increased pressure on security arrangements, and the resulting chaos led to this tragic incident.
