Chennai, Sep 28 — The Madras High Court on Sunday cancelled its urgent hearing on a plea linked to the deadly stampede at actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur.
A vacation bench of Justice N. Senthilkumar had initially agreed to hear the petition filed by N. Senthilkannan of Karur district. However, upon review, the court noted that it was not a fresh plea but an impleading petition in an already pending case concerning police permissions for TVK meetings. It therefore decided to drop the special listing.
Meanwhile, police confirmed that the death toll from the tragedy had risen to 40, including nine children. Dozens more are undergoing treatment, some in critical condition. The stampede broke out late Saturday at Velusamypuram, where thousands had gathered to hear Vijay during his state-wide campaign. Panic and overcrowding at the exit reportedly triggered the deadly crush.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin rushed to Karur early Sunday, visiting survivors at the Government Medical College Hospital and consoling grieving families. Calling the incident “unprecedented and heartbreaking,” he announced ₹10 lakh compensation for families of the deceased and ₹1 lakh for the injured. Stalin also ordered a judicial inquiry led by a retired High Court judge to fix responsibility and prevent recurrence.
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who visited Karur later, criticised the administration and police for failing to enforce safety protocols. “This was an avoidable tragedy,” he said, demanding stricter regulations for political rallies.
Vijay expressed profound grief in a social media post, terming the loss “irreparable.” He announced ₹20 lakh each for bereaved families and ₹2 lakh for the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed condolences and declared ₹2 lakh compensation from the PM’s Relief Fund.
The tragedy has sparked debate across Tamil Nadu over crowd safety and political event management.
