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Tamil Nadu: 39 people, including children, killed in stampede at Vijay's rally in Karur

39 people, including eight children, died in a stampede at actor-politician Vijay's rally in Karur, about 400 km away from Chennai, on Saturday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said.

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DY365

Tamil Nadu: 39 people, including children, killed in stampede at Vijay's rally in Karur

At least 39 people, including eight children, died in a stampede at actor-politician Vijay's rally in Karur, about 400 km away from Chennai, on Saturday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said.

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Vijay, heading the fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, said he was heartbroken and in "unbearable pain," following the stampede that left women and children dead in one of the worst tragedies in the state recently.

The victims also include 16 women, Stalin, who convened a meeting of top state officials at the Secretariat to review the situation, said.

Late in the night, Stalin arrived in Karur and paid tributes to the victims of the stampede. He also spoke to the injured admitted to the hospital.

He announced a Commission of Inquiry to be led by Justice Aruna Jagadeesan to probe into the stampede.

The government announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the victims.



President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and others condoled the tragic incident.

Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry has sought a report on the stampede from the Tamil Nadu government. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi and Stalin to take stock of the situation in Karur and assured all possible central help.

According to officials, the stampede broke out in the evening, around 7.30 pm, just as Vijay was addressing supporters who had gathered in huge numbers in the afternoon and were waiting for hours to get a glimpse of the TVK leader, also a top movie star.

Vijay, who was addressing the massive gathering from atop his campaign vehicle, halted his speech mid-way when many workers raised an alarm after noticing that people were fainting and falling, among them many women and children.

The CM said he has instructed Ministers Ma Subramanian, Anbil Mahesh, and the District Collector to provide immediate support to the affected people.

The small town wore a gloomy look following the tragedy, with desperate people searching for their loved ones and panic-stricken faces waiting for some positive information on their relatives.