Karur: Discarded footwear, torn party flags and crumpled shirts lay scattered on the roadside at Velusamypuram in Tamil Nadu’s Karur Sunday, a day after actor-turned-politician Vijay’s rally ended in a stampede that has claimed 41 lives, including those of 16 women and six children. The stampede has left the small textile town stunned.

Vijay’s late arrival to the venue, his frenzied fan base and poor crowd management are being cited as among the reasons behind the tragedy, even as the state police department and Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party continue to trade blame.

The tragedy unfolded when thousands of supporters surged forward as Vijay’s campaign van entered the Velusamypuram locality in Karur late Saturday evening. Show Full Article

What had begun as an atmosphere

See Full Page