'Unbearable Loss': Actor Vijay To Give 20 Lakh To Stampede Victims' Families

Actor-politician Vijay today announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the families of each of the 39 people killed in a stampede at his rally in Tamil Nadu's Karur last evening. The TVK chief said his party will also give Rs 2 lakh each to the nearly 100 injured in the tragedy.

In a social media post through his party's official handle on X, the 51-year-old actor-politician said he is overwhelmed by grief. "I am at a loss for words to express the pain my heart endures. My eyes and mind are clouded with sorrow. The faces of all of you whom I have met keep flashing through my mind. The more I think of my loved ones who show affection and care, the more my heart slips further from its place," he said.

"While I express my deepest condolences with indescribable pain to you who are grieving the loss of our cherished loved ones, I also stand close to your hearts, sharing this immense sorrow. This is indeed an irreparable loss for us. No matter who offers words of comfort, the loss of our loved ones is unbearable. Yet, as a member of your family, I intend to provide 20 lakh rupees to each family that has lost a loved one and 2 lakh rupees to those who are injured and receiving treatment," said the TVK chief, who is prepping for a poll debut in the Assembly polls next year.

"This amount is, of course, not significant in the face of such a loss. Still, at this moment, it is my duty as one who belongs to your family to stand by you, my dear ones, with a heavy heart. Likewise, I pray to God that all our loved ones who are injured and undergoing treatment recover swiftly and return home. I also assure you that our Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam will steadfastly provide all necessary support to our loved ones under treatment. By the grace of God, let us strive to recover from all this," he said.

While this is Vijay's second condolence message since the tragedy, he has refrained from commenting on the alleged violations of safety norms at his rallies - impromptu roadshows and flouting of police conditions - which have come under severe scrutiny after the Karur incident.

Earlier, the MK Stalin-led DMK government in Tamil Nadu announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the dead and Rs 1 lakh for the injured. Prime Minister Narendra has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each victim of the tragedy. The injured would be given Rs 50,000, the Prime Minister's Office has said. 

On Saturday, a massive crowd of nearly 27,000 people surged uncontrollably at the Karur rally, originally planned for about 10,000 attendees. The late arrival of the TVK chief - nearly seven hours behind schedule - contributed to the crowd swell, and a stampede followed. The police say there was inadequate food and drinking water arrangements at the venue.

Tamil Nadu DGP G Venkataraman has already admitted that only 500 police personnel were deployed at the venue despite the massive turnout, raising questions over security arrangements.

Chief Minister MK Stalin has since rushed to Karur, announced a probe by a judicial commission headed by retired Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, and ordered urgent medical relief for the injured.