VCK Demands Increased Compensation After Karur Stampede Tragedy

A tragic stampede at a rally in Karur has resulted in the loss of 39 lives, leading to urgent calls for increased compensation for the victims’ families. The incident occurred on September 28, 2023, following a speech by the popular actor and political figure, Vijay. As the large crowd dispersed, panic ensued, causing severe overcrowding that trapped many individuals.

Emergency services responded quickly to the chaos, with over 50 attendees fainting and needing immediate medical attention. Victims included 17 women, 13 men, and nine children, with several still in intensive care at the Karur Government Medical College Hospital and nearby private facilities.

In the wake of this disaster, Thol. Thirumavalavan, leader of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Member of Parliament, has urged the Tamil Nadu government to raise the compensation for the deceased’s families from the current amount of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. Thirumavalavan described the situation as a “heart-wrenching incident” that has devastated families and called for “wartime-level” emergency measures to assist the critically injured.

During a visit to Karur, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed his condolences to the families affected. He announced that each family of the deceased would receive Rs 10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund, while those seriously injured would receive Rs 1 lakh. Despite the government’s swift response, Thirumavalavan criticized the financial support as inadequate given the scale of the tragedy.

The state government has initiated a judicial inquiry to investigate the causes and lapses that contributed to the stampede. The inquiry aims to establish accountability and recommend measures to enhance crowd safety at political events. Following this incident, there has been an outpouring of grief and calls for improved safety measures from political leaders across Tamil Nadu.

Thirumavalavan’s statements reflect a growing concern regarding crowd management at large gatherings, particularly in light of the recent tragedy. He emphasized the need for better planning and oversight to prevent future occurrences of similar disasters.

As the community mourns, the focus remains on providing adequate support for the victims’ families and ensuring that such a catastrophic event does not happen again.