On Tuesday, September 30, 2025, senior Tamil Nadu government officials addressed and refuted various rumors circulating on social media regarding the devastating stampede in Karur. This incident, which occurred on Saturday, September 27, 2025, during a rally organized by the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), tragically claimed 41 lives and left numerous others injured.
During a press briefing, officials presented a comprehensive compilation of videos from multiple television channels and other sources. These visuals were used to illustrate how the crowd at the event significantly grew throughout the day, long before TVK leader Vijay’s anticipated arrival in the evening.
Also read: Following the Karur tragedy, TVK leader Vijay released a video statement urging Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to ‘Target me, not TVK cadre.’
At a joint press conference held at the Secretariat, Revenue Additional Chief Secretary P. Amudha provided a detailed account of the events leading up to the stampede. She was joined by Home Secretary Dheeraj Kumar, Director General of Police G. Venkataraman, and Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) S. Davidson Devasirtham.
Ms. Amudha clarified that while the TVK had announced Mr. Vijay would address his supporters by noon on Saturday, he only arrived late in the evening. Consequently, a vast number of attendees, who had gathered since the morning, became exhausted and dehydrated. She also noted that the event’s location, Velusamypuram, was chosen based on the organizers’ specific request.
Showcasing videos on large screens that depicted the tragic sequence of events, Ms. Amudha highlighted that many young people followed Mr. Vijay’s vehicle to the venue. This influx dramatically increased the crowd size, more than doubling the initial estimates for the rally.
In related news, the TVK district secretary, Mathiyazhagan, who is the first accused in the FIR related to the Karur stampede, has been brought in for police questioning.
Addressing various claims, Ms. Amudha explicitly denied any power outage at the venue, a rumor widely spread on social media. She also dismissed allegations of a police lathi-charge, stating that officers merely guided people to create passages for vehicles.
Responding to social media criticism suggesting an intelligence failure, Ms. Amudha explained that organizers had initially projected a crowd of only 10,000. However, by 6 PM, the attendance had swelled to over 20,000, significantly exceeding police preparations based on the party’s estimates.
ADGP Devasirvatham stated that the initial police deployment was set at a 1:20 officer-to-public ratio. As the crowd grew unexpectedly, additional police personnel were quickly dispatched from nearby districts to manage the situation.
A video was presented during the briefing, showcasing the event’s unfolding and highlighting the significant crowd movement towards Mr. Vijay’s vehicle.
When questioned about emergency evacuation plans, Mr. Devasirvatham stated that the roads on both sides of the venue were open, providing ample space for people to disperse. However, he noted that attendees chose to surge forward toward Mr. Vijay’s vehicle instead. The total crowd size was estimated to be between 25,000 and 30,000 people.
Separately, the TVK has filed a petition with the Madras High Court, requesting a CBI investigation into the Karur tragedy.
Despite recognizing violations of safety guidelines, the ADGP explained that it would have been inappropriate to halt the rally or revoke permission at such a late stage.
Post-Mortems Conducted According to Regulations
Health Secretary P. Senthil Kumar confirmed that all post-mortems were conducted overnight, strictly adhering to established regulations. He noted that doctors and forensic specialists from other medical colleges were brought in to ensure the autopsy process was carried out swiftly and with good intent.
The first emergency call to a 108 ambulance, which was already stationed near the rally venue, was received at 7:14 PM, and the ambulance reached the initial victim within six minutes. However, it was only upon the arrival of the second ambulance that medical staff fully comprehended the scale of casualties. In total, 33 ambulances, including seven provided by the party, were deployed to transport the injured to hospitals.