Identity of all 39 vitims established in TVK Vijay's rally stampede in TN's Karur

Chennai: A day after the tragic stampede during the election campaign of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader Vijay in Karur on Saturday in Karur, which left 39 people including several children dead, sources on Sunday claimed that the identities of the dead have been established.  

According to Tmil Nadu Police sources, those who died in the Saturday night stampede have been idntified as -- M. Thamaraikannan, A. Hemalatha, A. Sailakshna, A. Saijeeva, D. Suganya, M. Akash, I. Dhanushkumar, M. Vadivazhagan, M. Revathi, S. Chandra, V. Guruvishnu, P. Ramesh, R. Sanojvarshan, M. Ravikrishnan, S. Priyadarshini, S. Tharanika, P. Palaniammal, P. Kokila, S. Maheswari, M. Ajita, K. Malathi, M. Sumathi, B. Manikandan, D. Satish Kumar, S. Krithikyadav, M. Anand, B. Sankar Ganesh, S. Vijayarani, J. Gokulapriya, P. Fathima Banu,G.  Kishore, S. Jaya, K. Arukani, S. Jayanthi, S. Kokilasri, K. Srinath, K. Mohan, P. Prithik, S. Brindha.

The sources also indicated that the autopsy on all the victims are being performed and the bodies are being handed over to the family of the victims.

On Saturday evening, people had started fainting at the heavily packed rally as the crowd went out of control, forcing the actor-turned-politician to pause his speech midway.

Following the incident, DMK leader Senthil Balaji and the district collector visited the hospital to assess the situation.

According to eyewitnesses at the site, several people, especially women and children, began fainting due to overcrowding. According to the peopole, the permission letter for actor turned politician Vijay’s Karur rally mentioned an expected turnout of 10,000, but officials estimate that close to 50,000 people could have assembled at the 1.20 lakh square feet venue.

Chief Minister MK Stalin, who visited Karur to meet the families of the victims and the injured, said, "In the history of our state, never has such a large number of people lost their lives in a program organised by a political party, and such a tragedy should never happen in the future either. Currently, 51 people are undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit."

"With a heavy heart, I pay homage to those who have lost their lives. A compensation of Rs 10 lakh will be provided to the families of the deceased. A compensation of Rs 1 lakh will be provided to those who were injured. I have ordered the formation of an inquiry commission headed by a retired High Court judge," Stalin added.

Folllowing the stampede, police have filed cases against TVK district secretary Mathiazhagan, party general secretary Bussy Anand, and joint general secretary C T Nirmal Kumar under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, besides charges under the Tamil Nadu Public Property Damage Act.

Vijay, in a message to his supporters on Sunday, said he was “deeply weighed down with sorrow” over the Karur tragedy and announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh each to the families of those who died and Rs 2 lakh each to those injured.

He also calied the loss of lives as “irreparable,” and said "no amount could ease the pain" but assured that his party, TVK, would stand by the victims’ families and extend all possible assistance.

Vijay also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Meanwehile, Chief Minister Stalin told reporters in Karur that the death toll included at least 17 women, 13 men and nine children. A further 51 people were receiving treatment, he said.