Daijiworld Media Network - Karur

Karur, Sep 29: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited Karur, Tamil Nadu, on Monday in the aftermath of the devastating stampede at a rally held by actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which claimed 41 lives and left over 60 injured on Saturday night.

Touring the Velayuthampalayam rally site and visiting survivors at local hospitals, Sitharaman said she was in Karur on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union government to personally console the victims and assess the situation.

Calling the tragedy “unimaginably painful,” she noted that many families had arrived with children, some without food or water, only for the event to turn fatal. She announced that each bereaved family will receive Rs 2 lac from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), once the necessary bank details are received from district authorities.

"The Prime Minister has expressed deep grief over the tragedy," she said. "I will brief Home Minister Amit Shah on the ground reality I’ve witnessed."

Sitharaman also stressed the urgent need for proper safety protocols at mass events and called for clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to prevent such disasters in the future. While reaffirming the Centre’s support, she refused to be drawn into any political discussions, saying, "My visit has a specific purpose — to deliver the Prime Minister’s message and ensure support."

Earlier, Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin, who visited the site shortly after the tragedy, stated that the state would frame new rules for political gatherings based on the findings of the Justice Aruna Jagadeesan Commission, which has already begun its inquiry. “Our action will be guided by the commission’s findings,” he said, also urging the public to refrain from spreading unverified information.

AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami extended condolences and pointed to the tragedy as proof of the urgent need for stronger crowd control and public safety mechanisms at large-scale events.

TVK leader Vijay, visibly shaken, called the incident "heart-wrenching" and announced Rs 20 lac compensation for each bereaved family, along with Rs 2 lac for those injured.

The stampede was triggered when thousands rushed forward to catch a glimpse of Vijay after his speech, causing a chaotic surge and widespread panic. The tragedy has since sparked intense public grief and renewed debate on safety at political and celebrity-driven public events in Tamil Nadu.