Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, reached out to TVK chief and actor-turned-politician Vijay to extend his condolences over the loss of lives in the Karur stampede, according to a report by news agency ANI quoting sources.
The incident occurred during a political gathering in Karur organized by TVK. By Monday, the death toll from the rally held on Saturday night had risen to 41. Over 60 people were admitted to hospitals, including a two-year-old child, the youngest victim of the tragedy.
The Tamil Nadu government has constituted a commission led by a former judge to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The devastating episode has also intensified discussions on public safety and event management practices. Former Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami questioned the government’s readiness and the measures that should have been in place to prevent such a disaster.