Chennai, Sep 28 (NationPress) Following the tragic stampede that occurred during actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President Vijay’s campaign rally in Karur, the death toll has tragically risen to 40. In response, the party has filed a petition with the Madras High Court, advocating for a thorough and impartial investigation of the incident.

TVK Deputy General Secretary C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar confirmed on Sunday that the party's request is set for urgent consideration by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court at 2:15 p.m. on Monday.

"Our appeal for an unbiased investigation into the Karur tragedy will be reviewed by the Madurai Bench tomorrow afternoon," Nirmal Kumar informed the media.

Previously, a group of TVK lawyers, led by Nirmal Kumar, visited Justice M. Dhandapani’s residence to make an urgent request for judicial oversight to ensure justice for the victims.

The team sought the court's directive for an independent inquiry, emphasizing the magnitude of the incident and the crucial need for accountability regarding crowd management and safety measures.

The stampede took place late Saturday evening during Vijay’s mass outreach rally at Velusamypuram in Karur.

Thousands had gathered since early morning in sweltering conditions, with scarce food, water, and medical resources. As Vijay’s arrival was delayed—he reached around 7:40 p.m., despite earlier indications of an earlier time—segments of the audience surged forward, leading to chaos. Many victims were trampled and suffocated in the congested, narrow paths leading to the venue. Among the deceased, nine were children, with most others being women. Over 60 individuals remain hospitalized, receiving treatment in both public and private facilities.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who arrived in Karur just after midnight, expressed profound sorrow, stating that such a tragedy must never occur again. He announced the formation of a judicial commission, led by retired Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, to thoroughly investigate the incident.

Stalin also declared ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹1 lakh for the injured.

Opposition Leader and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami visited the injured and criticized the state for severe lapses in security planning. "Proper crowd control and safety measures were disregarded. This is a man-made disaster," he asserted, demanding accountability from the government.

With the death toll rising and public outrage growing, the upcoming days are likely to witness heightened political tension, even as the judiciary steps in to ascertain responsibility for one of Tamil Nadu’s most devastating public tragedies in recent history.