In his first public response following the tragic stampede at his rally in Karur, actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President Vijay expressed grief and sorrow. The devastating incident, which occurred on Saturday evening, claimed the lives of at least 38 people, including 10 children and 17 women, as tens of thousands of supporters had gathered to see him.
Vijay, who left Karur shortly after the rally and was later spotted at Chennai airport, remained silent for several hours before taking to X to address the tragedy. Writing in Tamil, he described his heart as “shattered” and said he was “writhing in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow that words cannot express.” He offered his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the swift recovery of those injured and receiving medical treatment in hospitals.
“My heart is shattered; I am writing in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow that words cannot express. I extend my deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of my dear brothers and sisters who lost their lives in Karur. I pray for the swift recovery of those receiving treatment in the hospital,” Vijay said in his X post.
The rally had drawn nearly 30,000 attendees, far exceeding the expected crowd and the venue’s capacity. Vijay, who was scheduled to arrive around noon, reached the site over six hours late, by which time the crowd had already grown massive and congested.
The delayed arrival compounded the situation, leaving little room for safe movement and contributing to the chaos that ultimately led to the tragic stampede.