TVK president announces financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to kin of deceased
Bereaved family members of the victims mourn the death of their loved ones. PIC/PTI
The toll in the stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Karur on Sunday rose to 40 after a man succumbed to injuries at the government hospital, a health official said on Sunday. According to officials, the stampede broke out on Saturday 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 Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader.
Vijay said he was heart-broken and in “unbearable pain” following the stampede that left women and children dead. Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary P Senthil Kumar said 39 people, including nine children, died and 67 people were undergoing treatment as in-patients. “In this unfortunate incident, 39 deaths have been reported — 17 women, 13 men, four male children, and five female children. The postmortem has been done for 30 (out of 39 deceased) and the bodies have been handed over to their families,” Senthil Kumar told reporters after visiting the patients at the GH.
Mounds of shoes and chappals, crushed water bottles, torn party flags, pieces of clothes, broken poles, shreds of paper sprayed from party poppers and striking garbage of sorts, at the venue only reminded of the tragic incident.
TVK moves Madras HC
Actor-politician Vijay led TVK on Sunday made a mention before Justice M Dhandapani of the Madras High Court to order CBI or Special Investigation Team probe into the tragic death of 40 people. A group of advocates led by TVK’s advocates’ wing president S Arivazhagan went to the residence of Justice M Dhandapani on Greenways road here and made a mention.
Footwear and other belongings of the people who attended the rally. Pic/PTI
In the alternative, they requested the court to initiate suo motu proceedings into the incident (death of 40 people due to stampede). According to TVK party functionary Nirmal Kumar, the judge asked the advocates to file a petition and it will be taken up for hearing on Monday at 2.15 pm.
Rs 20 lakh compensation
TVK president Vijay on Sunday announced a financial assistance of R20 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives at a stampede. He also said Rs 2 lakh would be given to those who sustained injuries. Expressing his condolences to the bereaved families in a social media post on Sunday, Vijay said, “It is not a huge amount for the loss you have suffered. I know your loss cannot be replaced. It is an irreparable loss. However, it is my duty to stand next to you in this hour and share your grief.”
He added that he would pray for the speedy recovery of those injured and assured that his party men would provide all possible support to those undergoing treatment in hospitals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to be given to the kin of each deceased in the unfortunate incident. The injured would be given Rs 50,00, he said in a post on X.
Probe ordered
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sunday said the Commission led by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan would arrive in Karur later in the day to probe the stampede incident. He said Chief Minister M K Stalin would take appropriate action based on the report submitted by the panel. “The Commission will speak to the affected individuals and submit its report. Based on its recommendations, the CM will take suitable action,” Udhayanidhi told reporters. The Deputy CM said over 345 doctors and nurses from neighbouring districts have been deployed to treat the injured.
CM, Dy CM meet victims, families
Chief Minister MK Stalin at the hospital. PIC/PTI
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin rushed from Chennai to Karur and interacted with doctors on the treatment being provided to the people injured in the stampede at actor Vijay’s rally on Saturday, and comforted them and assured of best care. Paying floral tributes to the dead, Stalin, spoke to the bereaved families and said the anguish caused by the wails of the kin of those killed in the stampede and their tears has not gone away from his heart.
The CM reached Karur from Chennai past midnight. Authorities announced helpline numbers to reach the Karur district collector office helpdesk (04324 256306 and WhatsApp 7010806322). Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi also cut short his overseas trip and visited the hospital and the morgue where he paid homage to the deceased and met with the families of the deceased. He was accompanied by Cabinet colleagues, including Health Minister Ma Subramanian. The Deputy CM said over 345 doctors and nurses from neighbouring districts have been deployed to treat the injured.
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