Actor-politician Vijay's party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has moved Madras High Court seeking an independent investigation into the Karur stampede.
The toll in the Karur stampede rose to 40 on Sunday after a man succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at the government hospital. TVK has alleged that the tragedy was not accidental but a result of "conspiracy". A group of advocates led by TVK's advocates' wing president S Arivazhagan went to the residence of Justice M Dhandapani on Greenways road in Chennai and made a mention. TVK deputy general secretary Nirmal Kumar told reporters that the party had approached the high court bench with a plea for an impartial inquiry into the incident. "The judge agreed to hear the case tomorrow at 2.15 pm. We will make official our statement thereafter," he said. The judge asked the advocates to file a petition before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court and it will be taken up for hearing on Monday at 2.15 pm, according to Kumar. In the alternative, they requested the court to initiate suo motu proceedings into the incident.
Vijay on Sunday said he is deeply anguished over the incident. Vijay announced Rs 20 lakh would be given to the families of those who lost their lives at a stampede during his party's rally in Karur.
Expressing his condolences to the bereaved families in a social media post on Sunday, he said a sum of Rs 20 lakh would be given to the families of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh to those who sustained injuries.
"It is not a huge amount for the loss you have suffered. I know your loss cannot be replaced. It is an irreparable loss. However, it is my duty to stand next to you in this hour and share your grief," he said.
The toll in the stampede here rose to 40 after a man succumbed to injuries at the government hospital, reported PTI citing a health official. Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary P Senthil Kumar said 39 persons died and 67 persons were undergoing treatment as in-patients.
"In this unfortunate incident, 39 deaths have been reported--17 women, 13 men, 4 male children, and 5 female children. The postmortem has been done for 30 (out of 39 deceased) and the bodies have been handed over to their families," Senthil Kumar told reporters after visiting the patients at the GH.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to be given to the kin of each deceased in the unfortunate incident. The injured would be given Rs 50,000, he said in a post on the social media platform 'X'.
