The commission of inquiry headed by Justice Aruna Jagadeesan has begun its probe into the Karur stampede that claimed at least 41 lives during a rally organised by actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party in Tamil Nadu.
The tragedy, which occurred on September 27, has left more than 60 people hospitalised, with at least two in critical condition. Officials have cited overcrowding at the rally venue as the primary cause of the stampede. Among the deceased were 18 women, 13 men, and 10 children, most of them from Karur district.
In response, Vijay announced financial aid of ₹20 lakh for each bereaved family and ₹2 lakh for those injured, describing himself as being at a “loss for words” over the tragedy. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin separately declared compensation of ₹10 lakh for families of the deceased and ₹1 lakh for the injured.
Meanwhile, the Madras High Court is set to hear a petition filed by Vijay’s party seeking an independent probe by the CBI or a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Another plea before the court has called for a temporary ban on TVK rallies until the inquiry is concluded.
Political leaders across party lines have expressed grief and urged stronger safety measures at public gatherings. The state government has already ordered a high-level review of lapses that led to the deadly incident.
Security concerns also intensified after Chennai police received a bomb threat call targeting Vijay’s residence at Neelankarai on Sunday. A bomb disposal squad was deployed, and searches were conducted around the property.
Source:Africa Publicity
