Something in wrong in our country with crowd management: Congress' Shashi Tharoor on Karur stampede

Thiruvananthpuram: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday described the Tamil Nadu's Karur stampede that killed 39 people, including children as "tragic" and stressed that public safety must be prioritised during events with celebrities or political leaders as he urged the central and state governments to "implement strict, uniform protocols for large gatherings to prevent such disasters.

The stampede took place on Saturday evening in Karur due to massive overcrowding at actor-turned-politician Vijay's rally,

Reacting on stampede at Vijay's rally, Tharoor said "such tragedies highlight flaws in the country's crowd management".

It was heartbreaking to see such tragedies happen repeatedly, he said while recalling the Bengaluru stampede which killed 11 earlier this year.

The Congress leader urged the central and state governments to create strict rules and safety protocols for large gatherings to prevent future incidents.

“Its a very tragic and painful situation. Something is wrong in our country with crowd management. Every year, there seems to be an incident. We remember Bengaluru. It is very heartbreaking when we hear children being killed in these stampedes,” Tharoor told media here.

“For me, the argument is about what can we do as a systematic policy nationally to protect ordinary people. People go in a spirit to listen to a politician who happens to be a movie star, or to see cricketers, who are also stars for us, the basic thing should be that there should be certain rules, standards, and protocols in place,” he said.

"At the same time I earnestly appeal to the central government and all state governments to agree on a set of very strict procedures governing all large crowds in any circumstances so that we do not needlessly suffer the grief and anguish of loved ones being lost in these terrible stampedes," Tharoor added.

The tragedy at a rally addressed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and actor Vijay in Karur, Tamil Nadu, has left at least 39 people dead and nearly 70 injured.

On Saturday night, even Leader of Opposition in the LOk Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also condoled the loss of lives in Karur stampede.

In a post on X, he said, "Deeply saddened by the tragic incident at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, that has taken so many precious lives. My heart goes out to their loved ones, and I wish a swift recovery to all those injured."

"I urge Congress workers and leaders to extend every possible support to the victims and their families, and to work closely with the authorities in relief and rescue efforts," Rahul Gandhi added.