Karur stampede: Identities of 39 persons killed during TVK rally established

The identities of 39 persons who were killed in the stampede during the election campaign of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader Vijay in Karur on Saturday (September 27, 2025) night have been established.

In Pictures: Stampede at Vijay’s TVK rally in Karur

Emergency personnel quickly rush an injured person from the TVK rally stampede to the Karur General Hospital, on September 27, 2025.

Chappals strewn across the ground are visible in the aftermath of a stampede at actor and TVK chief Vijay’s rally in Karur on September 27, 2025. At least 39 people were killed and more than 80 injured in the stampede.

Actor and TVK chief Vijay watches an ambulance trying to navigate a path through the crowd on September 27, 2025. The organisers had announced that TVK president Vijay would speak at 12 noon. The crowd began to assemble from 9 a.m., but he did not arrive at the scheduled time.

Anxious relatives gather outside the hospital where the injured were being treated after a stampede at TVK rally in Karur.

The State Government has announced a commission to be headed by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan to probe into the circumstances that led to the stampede, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin visits the hospital to meet the injured persons. He announced a solatium of ₹10 lakh each to the families of those who died in the stampede, and ₹1 lakh for those who were injured and are being treated in hospitals.

This view shows the area of the campaign venue at Veluchamy Puram in Karur where a high number of casualties were reported.

The crowd, which began to assemble from 9 a.m., slowly grew in size as the day progressed.

There were roughly less than 4,000 people by 2 p.m. The supporters, who came from different parts of Karur and nearby Erode and Coimbatore districts, began to surge around 4 p.m., after learning that Mr. Vijay was on his way to Karur after having completed a rally in Namakkal.

Many of them, including women with children, continued to wait for him in spite of the scorching sun, and some of them even skipped lunch to keep their spots. The organisers kept playing specially penned campaign songs to engage the crowd. Mr. Vijay reached the designated spot only at 7 p.m.

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin visits the hospital to enquire about the health condition of the injured, in Karur on September 28, 2025.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami enquires an injured person at the Karur Medical College Hospital, on September 28, 2025.

BJP leaders Nainar Nagendran and Tamilisai Soundararajan visit the injured admitted at the hospital, on September 28, 2025.

A view of the Karur Medical College Hospital where the injured persons have been admitted and are being treated. The Karur district administration has set up emergency helplines for those seeking information on victims of the stampede. Residents can contact the District Collectorate Emergency Control Room at 04324-256306 or via WhatsApp at 7010806322.

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Police sources said the victims were:

1. M. Thamaraikannan (25) of Baganatham in Dindigul district
2. A. Hemalatha (28) of Vishwanathapuri in Karur district
3. A. Sailakshna (8) of Vishwanathapuri in Karur district
4. A. Saijeeva (4) of Vishwanathapuri in Karur district
5. D. Suganya (33), Karur
6. M. Akash (23), Karur
7. I. Dhanushkumar (24) of Sengal village in Karur district
8. M. Vadivazhagan (54) of Pasupathipalayam in Karur district
9. M. Revathi (52) of Erode district
10. S. Chandra (40) of Emur in Karur district
11. V. Guruvishnu (2) of Velusamypuram in Karur district
12. P. Ramesh (32) of Kodangipatti in Karur district
13. R. Sanojvarshan (13) of Thanthoni village in Karur district
14. M. Ravikrishnan (32) of LNS village in Karur district
15. S. Priyadarshini (35) of Emur village in Karur district
16. S. Tharanika (14) of Emur village in Karur district
17. P. Palaniammal (11) of Velusamypuram in Karur district
18. P. Kokila (14) of Velusamypuram in Karur district
19. S. Maheswari (45) of Arukampalayam in Karur district
20. M. Ajita (21) of Aravakurichi in Karur district
21. K. Malathi (36) of Rayanur North in Karur district
22. M. Sumathi (50), Karur
23. B. Manikandan (33) of Vellakoil in Tiruppur district
24. D. Satish Kumar (34) of Kodumudi in Erode district
25. S. Krithikyadav (7), Karur
26. M. Anand (26) of Sukkampatti in Salem district
27. B. Sankar Ganesh (45) of Gujiliamparai in Dindigul district
28. S. Vijayarani (42) of Thazhaipatti in Karur district
29. J. Gokulapriya (28) of Vellakoil in Tiruppur district
30. P. Fathima Banu (29) of Oddanchathram in Dindigul district
31. G. Kishore (17) of Karur
32. S. Jaya (55) of Vengamedu in Karur district
33. K. Arukani (60) of Emur village in Karur district
34. S. Jayanthi (43) of Velayuthampalayam in Karur district
35. S. Kokilasri (27) of Uppidamangalam in Karur district
36. K. Srinath (15) of Mettur in Salem district
37. K. Mohan (19) of Jambai in Erode district
38. P. Prithik (10) of Emur village in Karur district
39. S. Brindha (22) of Senthamangalam east village in Karur district

The sources said the autopsy were conducted on 35 bodies so far and handed over to their respective family members.