TVK chief and actor Vijay on Tuesday issued his first statement on the stampede that killed at least 41 in Karur last week, calling it the most painful moment of his life and appealing to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to not take action against his party functionaries.

“I have never faced such a painful situation in my life. I am in deep pain,” Vijay said in his statement. “Leaving aside all politics, we always request permission from the police for a safe place. But things that shouldn't have happened have happened.”

The TVK leader said he would personally meet the families affected by the tragedy. “I will soon meet the victims... I convey my deepest condolences to the family who are grieving due to the loss,” he said.


Vijay also confirmed that some TVK members had been arrested. “My party functionaries have been arrested by the police... Chief Minister, sir, I request you—please do not harm my party functionaries. You may come to my house or my office and take any action against me, but not against them,” he urged.

Expressing confidence that the full picture would emerge, Vijay added, “Soon, every truth will come out.”

Karur stampede kills 41

The death toll from the stampede at Vijay's campaign rally in Karur has risen to 41, after 65-year-old Suguna, a Karur resident on ventilator support, succumbed to her injuries.

Of the deceased, 18 are women, 13 men, five young girls, and five young boys. The majority—34 victims—are from Karur district, while others include two each from Erode, Tiruppur, and Dindigul districts, and one from Salem.

The tragedy unfolded on Saturday evening when a massive crowd at Vijay’s rally reportedly turned chaotic, causing panic. Several attendees fainted and were rushed to nearby hospitals, with sources pointing to overcrowding at the venue as the primary cause.

In the aftermath, TVK chief Vijay announced financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh to those injured. In an emotional post on X, he said he was at a “loss for words” to convey his pain, adding that the faces of the deceased kept flashing through his mind.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced compensation from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), offering Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. The PMO shared the announcement on X, noting the relief measures following the “unfortunate incident at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu.”

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced additional state compensation of Rs 10 lakh per deceased family and Rs 1 lakh for each person undergoing treatment.