Vijay meets families of Karur stampede victims

Actor and politician Vijay on Monday met the families of the Karur stampede victims in Mamallapuram, nearly a month after the devastating incident that claimed 41 lives. His visit comes as a gesture of solidarity

and compassion towards those affected by the tragedy.

More than 200 people, including 37 families of the victims and several injured survivors, are likely to be part of the meeting with the actor-politician. Each family was represented by four to five members, who gathered to share their experiences and grievances following the Karur stampede.

According to party sources, while Vijay had initially planned to visit Karur to meet the affected families in person, the venue was later shifted to Mamallapuram due to logistical challenges.

#WATCH | Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu | Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) party President and Actor Vijay to meet the family members of those who died in the Karur stampede on 27 September. Visuals from outside the venue. pic.twitter.com/TPeISP9Ebn

— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2025

What Led to the Stampede

The Karur stampede, which occurred on September 27 during a political rally addressed by actor-politician Vijay, claimed the lives of 41 people and left over 50 others injured. Among the victims was two-year-old Dhutu Vishnu, who had accompanied his relatives to the event. The tragedy unfolded when the crowd, far larger than what the venue could safely accommodate, surged forward as Vijay began his speech, breaking through barricades and causing widespread panic.

Also Read: CBI Begins Probe Into Karur Stampede That Killed 41, Summons TVK Leaders For Questioning

According to top TVK sources, finding an appropriate venue in Karur for Vijay’s meeting was described as a “Herculean task.” “We tried securing multiple venues in Karur but couldn’t get any. The one suggested by the Karur police was not suitable—it lacked proper safety features, had no compound wall, and resembled a godown. Managing a large crowd in such a space would have been extremely difficult, so we had to reject it,” a senior source said.

The party also clarified that, except for one family, all others had agreed to travel elsewhere to meet Vijay after venue challenges forced them to shift locations. TVK has faced criticism over the delay in Vijay’s visit to Karur, but party members maintained that each time a location was finalised, permissions were revoked or cancelled at the last moment, leaving them with no choice but to consider alternate districts.

Authorities later revealed that tens of thousands of supporters had gathered at the rally site, far exceeding the 10,000-person limit approved by the police.

Vijay’s six-hour delayed arrival added to the crowd’s restlessness, and when he began addressing the gathering, an overwhelming surge toward the stage led to the deadly stampede, marking one of the worst tragedies in the region in recent memory.