Actor-Turned-Politician Vijay's 1st Reaction After Deadly Stampede At Rally

In his first reaction hours after the stampede at his rally in which at least 38 people were killed, actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President Vijay has said his heart is "shattered" and he is "writhing" in pain.

At least 38 people, including 10 children and 17 women, were killed after a stampede broke out at the actor-politician's rally in Tamil Nadu's Karur, where nearly 30,000 supporters and fans had gathered to catch a glimpse of him on Saturday evening.

Vijay, who left Karur and was seen at the Chennai airport some time later, but made no comment, posted on X hours after reports of the stampede began trickling in. 

"My heart is shattered; I am writhing in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow that words cannot express," he wrote in Tamil. 

"I extend my deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of my dear brothers and sisters who lost their lives in Karur. I pray for the swift recovery of those receiving treatment in the hospital," he added.

The TVK chief was supposed to reach Karur around noon but arrived at least six hours late. By this time, the crowd had already swelled and there was hardly any space on the road even for the campaign bus in which he was travelling. 

"This is a deliberate ploy by the organisers of this event. Vijay made it very clear that it was supposed to start at a particular time, but it didn't. They (the crowd) waited for almost six hours. They were all there. Why did they (TVK) do this? They did this so that there would be mobilisation of crowds. This is a cheap ploy by the organisers and there was criminal negligence," DMK Spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai told NDTV. 

"Whoever is responsible has to be arrested. And Mr Vijay is culpable. He cannot escape culpability," he stressed.

In a statement, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of those killed and said a one-member commission of inquiry, headed by retired High Court Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, will be constituted to investigate the stampede.

"The loss of these precious lives has shaken the hearts of us all. I express my deepest condolences and sympathies to the families who have suffered this irreparable loss. I have directed that the best medical treatment be provided to all those admitted to hospitals. I will be travelling to Karur tonight to meet the families of the deceased, offer my condolences, and visit those receiving treatment in hospitals," he said.