Karur, 27 Sept

A massive crowd at Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Chief and actor Vijay's election campaign in Karur turned chaotic on Saturday, resulting in a stampede-like situation that left several people dead.

According to initial reports, multiple attendees fainted during the incident, and some were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

While sources suggest that the overcrowding at the venue triggered the panic and subsequent stampede, state health minister Ma Subramanian confirmed that more than 10 people were brought dead to the hospital.

Following the Chief Minister M K Stalin's directive, DMK district secretary and former minister Senthil Balaji immediately headed to the hospital to oversee relief measures. State Health Minister Ma Subramanian is also en route to the hospital, where the injured are being treated.

In a post on X, CM Stalin stated, "I have contacted former Minister @V_Senthilbalaji, Honorable Minister @Subramanian_Ma and the District Collector to provide immediate treatment to the public who have fainted and been admitted to the hospital due to the crowding."

Tamil Nadu CM further wrote, “I have ordered them to provide necessary assistance on a war footing. I have also spoken to the ADGP to take steps to rectify the situation there as soon as possible. I request the public to cooperate with the doctors and the police”.

Authorities are yet to release an official statement on the number of injured or the extent of damage, and further details are awaited as the situation develops. 

When people started fainting, several workers noticed the situation and raised an alarm and Vijay took note and halted his speech and threw water bottles from atop the custom-built campaign bus. However, ambulances had a tough time negotiating the heavily crowded thoroughfare to reach the spot.