The stampede at actor Vijay’s rally in Karur has unveiled a series of heart-wrenching accounts. The incident claimed 40 lives, including those of children, teenagers, and senior citizens. The youngest among the deceased was 18-month-old Hari Vishnu. Since the event, Vishnu’s father has been struggling with grief, while his mother remains in shock, seemingly unable to speak or react. Vishnu was taken to the rally by his aunt. The main road in Velusamy Nagar, where the aunt lives, was packed with a substantial crowd. Jayashree, Vishnu’s grandmother, shared the family’s ordeal. She explained that all her family members who went to the rally were at the government hospital, where her grandson died. The news of his passing reached the family through the television.
The scene at the rally ground, with hundreds of shoes and party flags scattered about, continues to evoke memories of the harrowing event. Of the 40 fatalities, 17 were women and nine were children. A couple who had planned to marry in October also perished in the stampede. The loss includes the only earner for a two-year-old’s family and children like Vishnu, leaving behind sorrow. The stampede at Vijay’s Karur rally occurred due to the delay of about six hours in his arrival. By the time he arrived, the crowd had swelled to over 25,000 people. Upon his arrival, the crowd became unmanageable, leading to the stampede. The party, Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), was criticized for insufficient organization, as well as the lack of police personnel to manage the large crowd.