Vijay Meets Families of Karur Stampede Victims, Apologises for Delay and Promises Lifelong Support

Chennai, October 28: Nearly a month after the tragic stampede that claimed 41 lives during actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay’s rally in Karur, the actor met with families of the victims in an emotional, day-long interaction held near Mahabalipuram on Monday.

According to party sources, Vijay personally met 33 bereaved families and several others who sustained injuries in the incident. The private meeting, organised at a hall near Mahabalipuram, began around 9 a.m. and continued till 6.30 p.m., with each family spending about 20 minutes with the actor.

Family members described the meeting as deeply emotional. Many broke down while recounting their experiences, and Vijay was said to have listened quietly, offering words of comfort and expressing regret for not being able to meet them in Karur earlier.

“He became emotional after seeing the photos of the deceased. He told us he did not know how to console us. He touched our feet and wept,” said P. Anandha Jothi, a textile worker from Karur who lost his wife and two children in the tragedy.

Anandha Jothi added that Vijay assured him of continued support, asking him to consider him “one among the family” and promising to visit their home one day.

Several families also took photos with Vijay, holding pictures of their deceased loved ones.

A relative of another victim, who did not wish to be named, told The New Indian Express that Vijay appeared unaware of the full extent of the chaos that had unfolded that day. “He said he only realised the scale of the tragedy after reaching the site and was heartbroken seeing children struggling. He apologised for everything that happened,” the family member said.

Party insiders emphasised that Vijay’s intention was to spend meaningful time with each family, something that would not have been possible had the meeting taken place in Karur.

“There were logistical and security challenges in holding the event there,” said K.G. Arunraj, TVK’s General Secretary for Propaganda and Policy Development. “Our leader wanted to interact without time constraints, so the meeting was organised near Chennai instead.”

Families who attended the meeting said Vijay spoke “like a family member, not a politician,” and refrained from making any political statements.

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Wife of Victim Returns Solatium Over “Lack of Personal Visit”

In a related development, M. Sangavi, wife of stampede victim Ramesh from Kodangipatti in Karur, returned the ₹20 lakh solatium given by TVK. She said she was disappointed that Vijay had not visited Karur to meet the victims’ families and that she was not invited to the Mahabalipuram meeting.

Sangavi alleged that her sister-in-law and other relatives were taken to Chennai instead. “I was not informed about the meeting, and I felt hurt that he didn’t keep his word to meet us in Karur,” she told reporters. The amount was reportedly returned via bank transfer.

The TVK leadership has not yet issued a response to Sangavi’s decision.