Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and actor Vijay during addressing a rally in Karur on September 27, 2025. | Photo Credit: M. Moorthy
In a tragic development following the stampede at Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay’s election campaign rally in Karur on Saturday, September 27, 2025, authorities have successfully identified all 39 individuals who lost their lives.
In Pictures: Stampede at Vijay’s TVK rally in Karur
Emergency personnel quickly rush an injured person from the TVK rally stampede to the Karur General Hospital, on September 27, 2025.
Chappals strewn across the ground are visible in the aftermath of a stampede at actor and TVK chief Vijay’s rally in Karur on September 27, 2025. At least 39 people were killed and more than 80 injured in the stampede.
Actor and TVK chief Vijay watches an ambulance trying to navigate a path through the crowd on September 27, 2025. The organisers had announced that TVK president Vijay would speak at 12 noon. The crowd began to assemble from 9 a.m., but he did not arrive at the scheduled time.
Anxious relatives gather outside the hospital where the injured were being treated after a stampede at TVK rally in Karur.
The State Government has announced a commission to be headed by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan to probe into the circumstances that led to the stampede, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin said.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin visits the hospital to meet the injured persons. He announced a solatium of ₹10 lakh each to the families of those who died in the stampede, and ₹1 lakh for those who were injured and are being treated in hospitals.
This view shows the area of the campaign venue at Veluchamy Puram in Karur where a high number of casualties were reported.
The crowd, which began to assemble from 9 a.m., slowly grew in size as the day progressed.
There were roughly less than 4,000 people by 2 p.m. The supporters, who came from different parts of Karur and nearby Erode and Coimbatore districts, began to surge around 4 p.m., after learning that Mr. Vijay was on his way to Karur after having completed a rally in Namakkal.
Many of them, including women with children, continued to wait for him in spite of the scorching sun, and some of them even skipped lunch to keep their spots. The organisers kept playing specially penned campaign songs to engage the crowd. Mr. Vijay reached the designated spot only at 7 p.m.
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin visits the hospital to enquire about the health condition of the injured, in Karur on September 28, 2025.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami enquires an injured person at the Karur Medical College Hospital, on September 28, 2025.
BJP leaders Nainar Nagendran and Tamilisai Soundararajan visit the injured admitted at the hospital, on September 28, 2025.
A view of the Karur Medical College Hospital where the injured persons have been admitted and are being treated. The Karur district administration has set up emergency helplines for those seeking information on victims of the stampede. Residents can contact the District Collectorate Emergency Control Room at 04324-256306 or via WhatsApp at 7010806322.
Police officials have confirmed the identities of the deceased. The victims are:
- M. Thamaraikannan (25) of Baganatham in Dindigul district
- A. Hemalatha (28) of Vishwanathapuri in Karur district
- A. Sailakshna (8) of Vishwanathapuri in Karur district
- A. Saijeeva (4) of Vishwanathapuri in Karur district
- D. Suganya (33), Karur
- M. Akash (23), Karur
- I. Dhanushkumar (24) of Sengal village in Karur district
- M. Vadivazhagan (54) of Pasupathipalayam in Karur district
- M. Revathi (52) of Erode district
- S. Chandra (40) of Emur in Karur district
- V. Guruvishnu (2) of Velusamypuram in Karur district
- P. Ramesh (32) of Kodangipatti in Karur district
- R. Sanojvarshan (13) of Thanthoni village in Karur district
- M. Ravikrishnan (32) of LNS village in Karur district
- S. Priyadarshini (35) of Emur village in Karur district
- S. Tharanika (14) of Emur village in Karur district
- P. Palaniammal (11) of Velusamypuram in Karur district
- P. Kokila (14) of Velusamypuram in Karur district
- S. Maheswari (45) of Arukampalayam in Karur district
- M. Ajita (21) of Aravakurichi in Karur district
- K. Malathi (36) of Rayanur North in Karur district
- M. Sumathi (50), Karur
- B. Manikandan (33) of Vellakoil in Tiruppur district
- D. Satish Kumar (34) of Kodumudi in Erode district
- S. Krithikyadav (7), Karur
- M. Anand (26) of Sukkampatti in Salem district
- B. Sankar Ganesh (45) of Gujiliamparai in Dindigul district
- S. Vijayarani (42) of Thazhaipatti in Karur district
- J. Gokulapriya (28) of Vellakoil in Tiruppur district
- P. Fathima Banu (29) of Oddanchathram in Dindigul district
- G. Kishore (17) of Karur
- S. Jaya (55) of Vengamedu in Karur district
- K. Arukani (60) of Emur village in Karur district
- S. Jayanthi (43) of Velayuthampalayam in Karur district
- S. Kokilasri (27) of Uppidamangalam in Karur district
- K. Srinath (15) of Mettur in Salem district
- K. Mohan (19) of Jambai in Erode district
- P. Prithik (10) of Emur village in Karur district
- S. Brindha (22) of Senthamangalam east village in Karur district
Officials further stated that autopsies have been conducted on 35 of the bodies so far, and they have been subsequently handed over to their respective family members.