A catastrophic crowd surge at a political gathering in southern India has resulted in at least 40 fatalities and left 124 individuals injured. The incident occurred during an election campaign event for the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party in the Karur district of Tamil Nadu.
Authorities have initiated legal proceedings against three party organizers, citing a severe breach of the permitted attendance limits. The event, originally sanctioned for 10,000 participants, reportedly drew a crowd exceeding 27,000 people.
Witnesses described a scene of chaos as supporters, who had endured hours of waiting under intense heat with inadequate provisions, surged forward when the party leader arrived significantly behind schedule. The resulting pressure led to a deadly collapse within the assembly.
Medical officials confirmed that many victims were deceased upon arrival at medical facilities, while those injured remain in stable condition. Among the casualties were several children.
The political figure at the center of the event expressed profound grief over the tragedy, describing his anguish as “unbearable” in a public statement. National leaders have offered condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for the recovery of the injured.
State authorities have established an investigative commission headed by a retired judicial official to determine the precise causes of the disaster and identify responsible parties. This incident represents the latest in a series of similar crowd management failures at large public gatherings across the country, highlighting ongoing concerns about safety protocols for mass events.
