Karur's Wounds, Vijay's Test: Memorials, Jobs And Compassion

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay broke down and was unable to speak for nearly five minutes as he met families of those killed in the Karur TVK rally stampede, beneficiaries told NDTV after an emotional meeting on Friday. Nine months after the tragedy claimed 41 lives, what was expected to be a formal function to hand over compassionate appointment orders instead turned into a deeply personal encounter, with grief overwhelming both the bereaved families and the Chief Minister.

"When the Chief Minister met us, he broke down. He couldn't speak for five minutes," recalled Priyadarshini, who lost her brother in the September tragedy.