A tragic incident of overcrowding during a political gathering in Karur, southern India, has resulted in the deaths of at least 39 people. According to local media reports citing Tamil Nadu’s Health Minister, Ma. Subramanian, the deceased include a minimum of ten children.
Tens of thousands of people had gathered in Karur to hear a speech by the prominent actor and politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, known as Vijay, affiliated with the regional party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. Organizers had underestimated the scale of the turnout, with the actual attendance exceeding 30,000, significantly surpassing anticipated numbers.
Eyewitness accounts describe chaotic scenes as large crowds pressed toward a speaker’s platform erected on a bus. The event itself was delayed by over six hours, with the continuous influx of attendees contributing to an increasingly uncontrolled situation.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sadness regarding the calamity. Such incidents of overcrowding, often occurring during large religious festivals or public events, are unfortunately not uncommon in India. An official investigation is expected to determine the precise factors contributing to the tragedy.
