**Commission of Inquiry Begins Probe into Karur Rally Crowd Crush Tragedy**
_Chennai_: A Commission of Inquiry, headed by retired Madras High Court judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, commenced its probe on Sunday into the tragic “crowd crush” incident at Karur. The calamity, which occurred during a rally led by actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader Vijay the previous night, claimed 40 lives, including nine children and 17 women.
Of the victims, 39 were brought dead to the Government Hospital in Karur, while one person succumbed to injuries on Sunday. Currently, 50 individuals are convalescing at the Government Hospital, and over 60 others are receiving treatment at different private hospitals across the district.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who air-dashed to Tiruchi and proceeded to Karur in the early hours, refrained from blaming anyone directly. He stated that the Commission’s investigation would form the basis for further action.
Karur Collector Thangavel informed journalists that within hours of the tragedy, 114 doctors and 23 nurses were dispatched from Tiruchi, Namakkal, Salem, Dindigul, Madurai, and Coimbatore to assist in treating the injured. Additionally, Collectors from Dindigul and Tiruchi joined their Karur counterpart to oversee the rescue and treatment operations.
Due to the scale of the incident, officials brought in 16 forensic experts from various locations. The usual protocol of conducting autopsies only during the day was waived, and autopsies were performed overnight to expedite the process. Bodies were handed over promptly to grieving relatives.
Heart-rending scenes unfolded at the Karur Government Hospital as families mourned their lost loved ones. Among the deceased were five members from the village of Emoor Puthur, including a young man who had recently become engaged. A mother and daughter were also among those who lost their lives. Many victims had traveled from other districts, eager to catch a glimpse of the celebrated actor.
Actor Vijay, who faced criticism for returning to Chennai instead of visiting the hospital, released an emotional statement. He announced compensation of Rs 20 lakh for each deceased victim and Rs 2 lakh for those injured.
In the aftermath, the Karur Town Police filed a case against Vijay’s party officials: General Secretary ‘Bussy’ N Anand, Joint General Secretary Nirmal Kumar, and the Karur unit secretary in connection with the tragedy.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Davidson Devasirvatham assured that a detailed investigation would be conducted into the circumstances leading to the incident. He emphasized that the police had provided adequate security (bandobust) and denied reports of stone-pelting at the rally.
Opposition Leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami alleged that lapses in security arrangements led to the loss of lives. BJP State President Nainar Nagenthran called for a Supreme Court-monitored inquiry.
Meanwhile, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court scheduled a hearing on Monday for a petition filed by Vijay’s party seeking a CBI probe into the tragedy.
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*We will continue to update this story as more details emerge.*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/tamil-nadu-news-commission-of-inquiry-begins-probe-into-karur-tragedy-toll-rises-to-40
