The horrifying aftermath of Saturday night’s stampede in Velusamypuram, Karur, was starkly visible on Sunday morning. Where actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay held a public meeting, leaving 39 people dead, the ground was littered with scattered slippers and torn party scarves—grim reminders of the tragedy.
Local residents, still reeling from the events, shared their harrowing accounts with reporters. Many pointed to the poorly chosen venue and the delayed arrival of actor Vijay as critical factors. “Crowds had begun to gather since early morning, but Mr. Vijay only arrived around 7:30 p.m.,” recounted Balaji, a local. “If he had stuck to the scheduled 3 p.m. arrival, the crowd would have been far smaller. By evening, the congestion was simply unbearable.”
Sivagurunathan N.S. echoed these sentiments, alleging, “The choice of venue significantly worsened the situation. Had he [Vijay] addressed the crowd from a flyover or the outskirts, people might have dispersed more easily. Instead, the procession moved directly with his propaganda van, trapping attendees.”
Adding to the chaos was a severe lack of basic amenities. “There was no water, and no shops were open all morning. People were fainting in the heat,” stated G. Chitra. Disturbingly, residents also observed children dangerously climbing electric posts and transformers, desperate for a glimpse of the actor, further escalating the risks in an already precarious environment.
The timing of the event also played a role. B. Balusamy noted, “Saturday evening is a peak time in Karur, when textile workers receive their wages. The huge influx of people eager to see Vijay, combined with the usual evening crowds, created immense pressure.”
Strong criticism was leveled against both the police and the organizers. “The police are everywhere now, but they were nowhere to be found when we needed them most. Despite having numerous intelligence units, they failed to anticipate this massive crowd,” lamented Palanisamy of Velusamypuram. “I saw bodies being carried away right before my eyes.”
Residents highlighted how other political gatherings are typically managed better. “Even the DMK organized its ‘Mupperum Vizha’ near the ring road, where there was ample space,” questioned K. Veeramani. “Why would they choose such a congested area for such a large public assembly?”