The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board chief engineer in Karur has made a major revelation about the Karur TVK rally stampede that claimed 41 lives.
 
The chief engineer said that there was no disruption in the power supply when TVK chief Vijay was giving his speech. He explained that the TVK west secretary had written a letter to TNEB on September 26 asking for a power cut during Vijay’s speech, but the request was turned down the same day.
 
“It is clear from all the images that the lights were on. The generators and focus lights set up by the organisers got switched off due to the crowd. TVK west secretary sent a letter on Sept 26 requesting a power cut when Vijay spoke at the rally, but it was rejected immediately,” the engineer told TOI.

Meanwhile, actor-politician Vijay alleged a “political conspiracy” and moved the Madras High Court’s Madurai bench, demanding either a CBI probe or an independent investigation into the incident.
 
The death toll from the stampede at Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader Vijay’s campaign rally in Karur has gone up to 41 after 65-year-old Suguna, who was on ventilator support in the intensive care unit, passed away.
 
Among those who died were 18 women, 13 men, five young girls and five young boys.

Out of the 41 victims, 34 were from Karur district, two each were from Erode, Tiruppur and Dindigul districts, and one was from Salem district.
 
The large gathering at Vijay’s rally on Saturday evening reportedly turned uncontrollable and triggered panic. Many people fainted and were rushed to nearby hospitals. The overcrowded venue is believed to have caused the tragedy.

A day earlier, Vijay had said he would give financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh to the injured. In an emotional post on X, he wrote that he was “at a loss for words” and that the faces of those who died kept coming back to his mind.
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced that families of the 39 people who initially died in the stampede would be given Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. Those injured would receive Rs 50,000 each.

After the incident, Karur police registered a case and booked TVK office bearers for negligence. Forensic teams inspected several areas, including a sewer where some bodies had been found. Local shops and businesses shut down as a mark of respect.
 
TVK deputy general secretary Nirmal Kumar said the party wanted a fair investigation, while Vijay kept his response limited to a post on social media announcing financial help for the victims.