NATIONAL: Karur Stampede: TVK Party Requested the Power Cut, Says Tamil Nadu Electricity Board
A heartbreaking stampede at actor-turned-politician Vijay’s campaign event in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district has left families shattered, with reports confirming at least 39 lives lost and dozens more hurt.
What started as an eager crowd gathering to hear from the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader turned into panic on the evening of September 27, 2025, as thousands surged forward in the tight space of Velusamypuram.
The tragedy unfolded after Vijay arrived hours late, around 7:20 p.m., swelling the already packed roads where fans had waited since morning without enough water or space.
Eyewitness accounts paint a scene of desperation, with people climbing poles and rooftops just for a glimpse, only for the crush to claim victims including women and children.
TVK’s Request for Power Cut Denied
In the midst of the grief, questions swirled about a sudden flicker of lights that some say sparked the rush.
The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board stepped in to clarify, with Chief Engineer Rajalakshmi revealing that TVK organizers had indeed sent a letter asking for a brief power shutdown during Vijay’s speech.
The request, made ahead of the massive turnout expected in Velusamypuram, cited crowd safety as the reason, aiming to avoid risks from overhead lines.
But the board turned it down flat, prioritizing steady supply, and Rajalakshmi confirmed no such cut happened on their end.
Official Word: Generator Glitch, Not Blackout
Tamil Nadu officials moved quickly to counter rumors of sabotage, with the district collector pointing to faulty generators set up by the party as the culprit for any brief dimming.
The government insisted the venue stayed powered throughout, blaming the chaos on overcrowding rather than any deliberate act.
Over 27,000 people showed up, far beyond the 10,000 TVK had anticipated, stretching thin the 500-plus police on duty.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced relief funds and visited the injured, while Vijay pledged 20 lakh rupees to victims’ families, his voice heavy with shock.
Conspiracy Claims from TVK Camp
TVK leaders didn’t hold back, alleging the timing of the lights going out right as Vijay pulled up smelled like a setup to sow disorder.
They claimed it drew fans forward in the dark, triggering the deadly push, and pointed to local reports from witnesses who felt the power dip just before things spiraled.
This isn’t sitting well amid the probe, with police booking a top TVK aide for lapses in planning and the Madras High Court already grilling the party on crowd control from earlier rallies.
Calls for a deeper investigation, even from opposition voices like PMK’s Anbumani Ramadoss, echo the need to sift fact from fear.
A Stark Reminder for Rally Realities
As Karur mourns, this hits hard on how star power can turn streets into bottlenecks without enough safeguards.
Families like one mother’s, who lost her 12-year-old daughter while chasing a hero’s wave, remind us the cost of unchecked enthusiasm.
With Vijay’s statewide tour just kicking off, the focus sharpens on better venues, real-time monitoring, and putting safety first before the cheers.