Karur Stampede: Trial by Tragedy

/7 min read
The Karur stampede has thrown Vijay’s political debut into crisis, raising questions about his party’s future
Karur Stampede: Trial by Tragedy
The day after the stampede in Karur, Tamil Nadu, September 28, 2025 

 THE CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT BEFELL actor-politician Vijay’s rally on September 27, killing 41 and injuring dozens in Karur, Tamil Nadu, is still being unpicked, but some facts are indelible. Permissions were granted for far fewer than the 25,000 (police estimates) to 60,000 who turned up. The actor’s ar­rival was rescheduled, and even as his caravan idled, the restless crowd surged forward. Barricades were bent and the stampede was sudden, brutal and un­containable as the crowd folded in on itself.