Death toll in Karur stampede rises to 40; Justice Aruna Jagadeesan begins inquiries

The death toll in Saturday night’s stampede at the political rally of actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay at Velusamypuram in Karur in Tamil Nadu went up to 40 on Sunday (September 28, 2025).

Kavin (31), who was undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) in Karur, was the latest victim succumbing to the injuries.

Also read: TVK rally stampede LIVE updates

According to official sources, of the 40 dead, 17 were women and 14 men. Nine were children, including five girls. The identities of all victims have been established. The Director of Medical Education summoned special medical teams from Namakkal, Salem and other neighbouring districts and pressed them into service to carry out post-mortem.

The teams completed post-mortem on all victims (39 in all then) on Saturday (September 27, 2025) night itself. Before the dawn on Sunday (September 28, 2025), the medical college authorities handed over the bodies of 35 out of 39 victims to the bereaved families. The bodies of the other four were handed to their families during the day.

Sources said that 111 persons from the rally were under treatment in government and private hospitals. While 50 persons were undergoing treatment in the Karur GMCH, 61 were being treated at various private hospitals in Karur.

The GMCH was busy throughout the day, with the visits of leaders of various political parties. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin visited the injured at the GMCH early in the morning. Landing at Tiruchi International Airport at 1.35 a.m. on Sunday (September 28, 2025), he arrived at the hospital at 3.15 a.m.

He placed wreaths on the bodies of the victims kept at the mortuary. He then met the injured at the hospital and enquired about the incident. Later, in a meeting with the health, revenue, police and other officials, Mr. Stalin directed them to provide the best treatment to the injured.

Hours later, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami visited the hospital and met the injured. He interacted with them and collected first-hand inputs from them about the circumstances that led to the stampede. He also met the members of the bereaved families and offered them his condolences.

Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, who has been tasked under a one-member Commission of Inquiry the State government constituted to probe into the stampede, began her inquiries on Sunday (September 28, 2025). She visited Velusamypuram, the stampede spot, to get first-hand inputs. She also visited the GMCH and held a discussion with the officials of the health and other departments.

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran, TNCC president K. Selvaperunthagai, and a host of other political leaders visited the injured at the hospital and consoled the families of the deceased.