The rally had drawn tens of thousands of supporters on Saturday, with people waiting for hours under the scorching sun. According to Tamil Nadu DGP G Venkataraman, the chaos was triggered by Vijay’s delayed arrival. The crowd surge worsened after TVK’s official X handle (formerly Twitter) announced that the leader would arrive by noon.
“We are not blaming anyone, but facts show that the swelling crowd, lack of food and water, and extended waiting hours in the heat led to this tragedy,” the DGP said. Most of the deceased were young men and women in their 20s and 30s, who had been standing at the crowded venue since morning.
The state government has announced relief measures. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin declared an ex-gratia of ₹10 lakh for each of the victims’ families.
Bomb Threat at Vijay’s Chennai Residence
Hours after the tragedy, another scare emerged. Chennai police received a bomb threat call regarding Vijay’s residence on East Coast Road, Neelankarai. An anonymous caller claimed an explosive device had been planted inside the property.
Police immediately cordoned off the area and deployed a bomb disposal squad with sniffer dogs to search the premises. As of now, no explosives have been found. Officials confirmed that a detailed investigation is underway to track down the caller and determine the authenticity of the threat.
This comes at a sensitive time when the TVK leader and his party are under intense scrutiny following the Karur rally disaster.
Public Reaction and Political Fallout
The twin developments — the Karur stampede and the bomb threat in Chennai — have shaken Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. Social media platforms have been flooded with grief messages for the victims, alongside calls for stricter crowd management at political events.
Political observers say the tragedy raises tough questions for Vijay and his TVK party regarding their ability to manage large gatherings safely. At the same time, the bomb threat underscores the heightened security risks for high-profile leaders in Tamil Nadu’s evolving political environment.