Tragedy at Vijay Thalapathy Rally
At Vijay Thalapathy’s Karur rally, nearly 40 people, including 10 children, died in a crowd crush after hours of waiting in heat and chaos.
On 27 September 2025, Karur district in Tamil Nadu witnessed a devastating tragedy at a political rally for actor-turned-politician Vijay Thalapathy. What was meant to showcase his rising political power spiralled into chaos, leaving nearly 40 people dead, including 10 minors and 17 women, and over 100 injured.
Vijay, one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars, entered politics in 2024 by launching his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and has been declared its Chief Minister candidate for the 2026 elections. His rallies attract both political supporters and fans, creating huge crowds.
At Karur, attendees waited for hours in scorching heat, with reports of fainting by afternoon. By 7.30 pm, the crowd swelled beyond safe limits, and when Vijay finally arrived—over six hours late—fans rushed towards his vehicle. The surge broke barriers, and panic led to trampling, suffocation, and crush injuries. Hospitals reported haunting scenes of families torn apart.
A viral video of Vijay continuing his speech as an ambulance siren blared nearby sparked outrage, fuelling criticism that leaders showed insensitivity. While the state announced compensation and Vijay expressed grief, critics say poor planning and delay caused the catastrophe.
The rally meant to project leadership instead stands as a tragic lesson in negligence and human loss.
