Karur, Sep 28 (NationPress) Authorities have filed charges against Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) General Secretary Bussy Anand, Karur West district secretary V.P. Mathiyazhagan, and state office-bearer C.T. Nirmal Kumar for multiple infractions related to the tragic crowd surge at the rally of party president and actor Vijay in Karur, resulting in 39 fatalities and numerous injuries.

The public gathering, which took place at Veluchamipuram on the outskirts of Karur, attracted thousands who lined up from early morning to catch a glimpse of Vijay during his statewide political campaign.

Witnesses reported that an unexpected surge in the crowd caused widespread panic, leading to people falling and being crushed in an area lacking adequate crowd control and proper lighting.

Ambulances faced difficulties navigating the congested roads as rescuers transported victims to the Karur Government Medical College Hospital and nearby private medical centers.

Among the 39 victims, 27 were from the Karur district, with two each from Erode, Dindigul, and Tiruppur, and one from Salem. The village of Emur in Karur faced a particularly devastating loss, with five residents including Priyadarshini and her young daughter Tharanika, Chandra, Arukkani, and 10-year-old Prithik among the deceased.

Many others, including children, are still receiving medical treatment, with several reported in critical condition.

This tragedy has evoked sorrow across the nation, with condolences expressed by President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

CM Stalin traveled to Karur overnight, visited the injured, and promised Rs 10 lakh in compensation for the families of those who died and Rs one lakh for the injured from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

He also mandated a judicial investigation led by retired High Court judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan to ascertain accountability and propose measures to avert such incidents in the future.

The Karur City Police have named the TVK leaders for purported breaches of safety protocols and flaws in event management that investigators believe played a role in the tragic stampede.

Specific sections invoked were not disclosed immediately, but authorities indicated that more charges could follow as evidence is gathered and testimonies are collected.

As rescue and relief efforts continued into Sunday, political figures across the spectrum called for stringent enforcement of safety measures at public events. Authorities have indicated that the commission of inquiry’s findings will be expedited, while families in Karur and nearby districts began funerals for their loved ones lost in the chaos.