A year after Karur stampede at TVK rally, scars remain and justice still elusive

Velusamypuram, the epicentre of the crowd crush that killed 41 persons during the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam rally addressed by its leader C. Joseph Vijay on September 27, 2025, has seemingly returned to normalcy. A year has passed, and it is business as usual for the residents, traders and commuters in the area. But for the families of the victims and eyewitnesses, the scars left by the tragedy that shook the nation’s conscience are yet to heal.

It was a Saturday evening that Karur will never forget. A massive crowd had gathered on both sides of the highway to hear Mr. Vijay (now Chief Minister) on the Karur-Erode Highway. The crowd, police estimated later, was several times larger than the expected turnout. What began as a show of strength ended in utter chaos, with a stampede claiming 41 precious lives, including women and children, and leaving scores injured. It turned out to be one of the deadliest political rally tragedies in the country.

A year later, the physical traces of the tragedy have faded, but not the trauma. “I try to forget the horrific scenes that unfolded after the police lathi charged a section of the crowd. But it still haunts me,” recalls R. Harish of Vadivel Nagar in Velusamypuram, an eyewitness. “People were gasping for breath, falling over each other. We did our best to pull out as many as possible,” he adds.

Thirty-five-year-old P. Selvarani of K.A. Nagar in Velusamypuram on the outskirts of Karur is still struggling to come to terms with the unbearable loss of her two young daughters – Kokila (8) and Palaniammal (11). She could never imagine that she would have to garland their portraits.

For her and the families of the other deceased and survivors, the wait for justice has been agonising. More than 11 months have passed since the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the investigation from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Tamil Nadu government, following the direction of the Supreme Court. The CBI, which re-registered a case and set up a dedicated team, has since questioned TVK organisers, police officers and personnel, who were on bandobust duty, survivors, ambulance drivers, medical practitioners and hundreds of eye witnesses. It has also collected video footage and examined the call detail records. However, the charge sheet has not been filed yet, and no arrest has been made, leaving the families anxious.

“No money will get back to our loved ones. We want to know why it happened and who is responsible. We will be at peace when the perpetrators are punished,” says C. Perumal (53), father of Kokila and Palaniammal.

Endorsing him, B. Anandajothi of Viswanathapuri in Karur, who lost his two daughters, Sai Jeeva (4) and Sai Lakshana (9), says, “We told everything to the investigating officers. Justice delayed is justice denied. But we have not lost hope in the CBI. We eagerly await justice.”

Opinion remains deeply divided on the circumstances and reasons that led to the tragedy. Police attributed it to a combination of factors — poor crowd management, inordinate delay in the arrival of the leader, narrow entry and exit points at Velusamypuram, and a sudden surge of crowds from all sides when Mr. Vijay arrived. The TVK, while suspecting conspiracy, held the then DMK government responsible, maintaining that the police had failed to provide adequate security and denied them permission for a more spacious ground in Karur.

For commoners, many questions remain unanswered. Why was permission given for a highway stretch with limited holding capacity? Why were there no proper barricades and emergency evacuation routes? Could the 41 lives have been saved if ambulances had better access?

The political landscape has since changed dramatically. Mr. Vijay, who led his party to score a stunning victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, visited Karur on July 10 as Chief Minister. He also announced that a memorial would be built.

As Karur gets ready to pay tributes to the stampede victims on their first death anniversary on Sunday (September 26, 2026), the memorial is yet to come up. Only painful memories remain. For the families, the anniversary is not just about remembrance but a renewed plea that justice should not be delayed further.