2025 Karur Riot

The 2025 Karur Crowd Crush was a crowd disaster that occurred on 27 September 2025 during a political rally organized by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party in the Karur region of Tamil Nadu state, India. The incident took place during a campaign event attended by actor and politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar.

_{2025 Karur Crowd Crush, 27 September 2025 – (Anadolu Ajansı)}

The number of fatalities reported in the crush varied across sources. Initial statements indicated that 31 people had died and 58 were injured. Subsequent official figures revised the death toll to 36, then 39, 40, and finally 41. The number of injured was reported to range between 40 and 124.

Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar is one of the most recognized actors in Tamil cinema. In 2024, he ended his acting career and founded the political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Vijay, known publicly only by his first name, has maintained popularity for more than three decades. He enjoys a vast fan base in southern India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, and his rallies draw large crowds.

The TVK party positions itself in opposition to the ruling party in Tamil Nadu, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ahead of the state elections planned for early 2026, TVK launched a statewide rally tour.

The Karur rally was part of this tour. The campaign event, titled “Velicham Veliyeru” (“Let There Be Light”), was held in the Velusamypuram area along the Karur–Erode highway. Due to expectations of high attendance, the event was moved from the city center to this location. Authorities initially permitted attendance of 10,000 to 30,000 people, but it was estimated that between 25,000 and 60,000 people gathered at the venue.

From early morning on 27 September, crowds began gathering at the venue in Velusamypuram, Karur. Television channels announced that Vijay would arrive at noon, but he entered Karur at 16:45, approximately six hours late, and reached the rally site at 19:40.

Vijay began addressing the crowd from atop his campaign vehicle, which was surrounded by a dense mass of people. As the crowd surged forward, some individuals moved toward the stage barriers, while others climbed onto tin roofs and trees to get a better view. These structures collapsed under the weight, causing crush injuries and fatalities.

According to witnesses, many people lost consciousness during the crush. Vijay briefly halted the rally and requested emergency medical assistance. He also threw water bottles to those affected by dehydration. As the vehicle began to leave the area, the crowd rushed forward to follow it, resulting in a severe compression.

The power outage further exacerbated the situation. When the spotlights went out during the rally, panic intensified. Ambulances struggled to navigate through the crowd, and volunteers formed human chains to extract the injured.

As of 29 September, the death toll from the Karur crush was confirmed at 41. The deceased included women, men, and children. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced that 13 men, 17 women, four boys, and five girls had died. Other reports stated that the victims included 18 women, 13 men, and 10 children. Some sources reported nine children among the dead.

Early reports listed between 40 and 58 injured, later revised to indicate that 51 to 60 people suffered serious injuries. Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian stated that a total of 124 people were treated in hospitals.

The majority of the injured were transported to medical facilities in Karur. Additionally, 44 doctors from Tiruchirappalli and Salem were deployed to provide emergency support. Most of the injured were reported to be in stable condition, though some required intensive care.

Following the crush, actor and politician Vijay issued a statement on the social media platform X. He said his heart was “shattered” and expressed “unbearable pain and sorrow.” He offered condolences to the families of the deceased and wished swift recovery for the injured.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin visited Karur, inspected the site, and met with the injured. Stalin conveyed his sympathies to the affected families and stated that the government would take all necessary steps regarding the incident.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the events on X as “unfortunate” and “deeply distressing.” He extended condolences to the families of the deceased and wished rapid recovery for the injured.

The incident drew reactions from other political figures. Senior officials in the central government, including Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, condemned the incident and expressed solidarity with the victims’ families.

Opposition parties criticized the organization of the rally, the choice of venue, and crowd management. Some members of parliament called for a detailed investigation by the government.

Following the Karur crush, the Tamil Nadu police filed a First Information Report (FIR). The report stated that the crush resulted from growing impatience and overcrowding caused by Vijay’s delayed arrival at the rally site.

The FIR named three senior TVK officials as primary responsible parties: Karur North district secretary Mathiazhagan, party general secretary Bussy Anand, and deputy president Nirmal Kumar. They were charged under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) with “attempt to commit culpable homicide” and “endangering the lives of others.” A separate case was also filed under the Tamil Nadu Public Property Protection Act. Mathiazhagan was arrested by police.

Three individuals identified as spreading misinformation on social media were taken into custody, and investigations were initiated against 25 accounts. The Tamil Nadu government announced the formation of a single-member inquiry commission headed by former judge Arunachalam Jagadeesan to investigate the incident. The commission is expected to review witness statements, video footage, and administrative reports to determine accountability.

The Tamil Nadu administration also asserted that the rally venue was poorly chosen, citing nearby hazards such as a petrol station and drainage channels. Government-released footage showed TVK volunteers breaching barriers and rushing forward.

Vijay, in a video message, denied the allegations, stating that he had applied for permits for ten different venues and that the police had approved the chosen location. He also accused Chief Minister Stalin of politicizing the incident as an act of revenge.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced that families of those killed in the crush would receive a compensation of one million Indian rupees (approximately USD 11,280). A support amount of 50,000 rupees was allocated for each injured person.

The state government activated emergency relief funds to meet the needs of affected families. Medical expenses for all injured treated in Karur hospitals were covered by the state.

The central government also expressed support, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several ministers offering financial and emotional solidarity to the victims.