KARUR: The death toll from Saturday night’s stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Karur rose to 41 on Monday, prompting him to allege a “political conspiracy” and approach Madras high court’s Madurai bench seeking a CBI or independent investigation.More than 60 people were hospitalised, with at least two in critical condition. The youngest victim is a two-year-old boy. Others included a 28-year-old woman and her two daughters under 10, and a 24-year-old couple set to marry.Chief minister M K Stalin reached Karur around 3am and visited the govt hospital treating the injured, paid homage to the deceased – including 10 children and 17 women – and assured support for their families. He said any action against Vijay would depend on the inquiry commission report headed by retired Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, who began investigating the site and hospital on Sunday.Also read: Karur stampede: Rahul Gandhi dials Vijay; offers condolences after 41 declared deadCase against Vijay’s party office-bearers TVK deputy general secretary Nirmal Kumar said the party sought an impartial probe. Vijay limited his response to a social media statement announcing 20 lakh for families of deceased and 2 lakh for the injured. PM Narendra Modi announced 2 lakh for bereaved families and 50,000 for the injured. AIADMK’s Edappadi K Palaniswami said full police protection could have averted the tragedy. Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin and politicians from parties also visited Karur. TVK functionaries were largely absent at ground zero.Karur police registered a case and charged TVK office-bearers with negligence. Forensic experts examined areas including a sewer where a couple of bodies were allegedly found. Shops and businesses closed as a mark of respect. Survivors blamed sudden crowd displacement for the stampede, exacerbated by Vijay’s delayed arrival and insufficient food and water in the hot sun. A generator failure that plunged the area into darkness triggered panic. Fans pushed forward to glimpse Vijay, some carrying children, while a collapsed shop roof and a missing child intensified chaos. By the time Vijay began speaking, several lay unconscious.He explained crowd-to-police ratios depending on density, citing previous TVK rallies: Tiruchirappalli 650 personnel, Ariyalur 287, Perambalur 480, Nagapattinam 410, Tiruvarur 413, and Namakkal 279.A Tamil students’ union protested outside Vijay’s Chennai home, where security was tightened.Also read: Vijay rally tragedy: Karur stampede victim moves Madras HC against nod to TVK to hold rallies
