Overview

• Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said 39 people died and 51 remain under treatment after a crush at TVK leader Joseph Vijay’s campaign event in Karur.
• An inquiry led by retired High Court judge Justice Aruna Jagadisan has been ordered, and ex gratia payments of ₹10 lakh for the deceased and ₹1 lakh for the injured were announced.
• Reports cite hours-long delays, oppressive heat, a densely packed crowd, a power interruption and a rush for thrown water bottles as factors that sparked the surge.
• Ambulances struggled to reach victims and police used lathi-charge to regain control, while a search continued for a reported missing 9-year-old.
• National and state figures including the Prime Minister, the President, senior Union ministers, opposition leaders and actor Rajinikanth offered condolences.