TVK Vijay Rally Stampede: Actor-turned-politician urges supporters to help find missing girl
Overview
On September 27, 2025, a tragic stampede occurred during a political rally organized by actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party in Karur, Tamil Nadu. The incident resulted in the deaths of at least 40 people, including 9 children and 17 women, and left 83 others injured.
Key Events Leading to the Tragedy
- Overcrowding and Delays: The rally, initially approved for 10,000 attendees, drew over 30,000 people, causing severe overcrowding. Vijay arrived nearly six hours late, which made crowd control difficult.
- Missing Child Incident: A 9-year-old girl named Ashmika went missing. Vijay appealed to the police to help find her and asked his supporters to search for her, cutting short his speech.
- Stampede Trigger: The crowd surged toward the stage barricades as Vijay’s vehicle arrived. The crush started near a shed housing a generator and a broadcast van, where people were pushed and trampled.
Public Response
- Viral Video: Footage showed Vijay requesting his cadres to search for the missing girl before the stampede, which went viral on social media.
- Criticism of Vijay: Some criticized him for continuing his speech while ambulances passed and people struggled. His late arrival and quick exit after the incident were also questioned.
- Political Fallout: DMK MP Kanimozhi criticized Vijay, implying he was absent during the tragedy.
Official Responses
- Compensation Announced: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced ₹10 lakh for each victim’s family and ₹1 lakh for the injured.
- National Aid: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ₹2 lakh for each deceased person and ₹50,000 for each injured individual from the PM National Relief Fund.
- Legal Action: Police filed a criminal case against senior TVK leaders.
Ongoing Developments
- Survivors approached the Madras High Court to pause TVK public events until investigations are complete.
- A retired judge-led investigation is underway to determine the causes, with results expected within a month.
Key Takeaway
This tragedy highlights the critical importance of crowd management and safety measures during large public gatherings, especially political rallies.
Instagram id link – actorvijay
