Shashi Tharoor Calls for Improved Crowd Safety Measures After Fatal Tamil Nadu Rally Stampede

Shashi Tharoor has called for stringent safety protocols and regulations for large public gatherings following the recent tragedy.

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala):

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed profound grief on Sunday regarding the devastating stampede in Karur, Tamil Nadu, which claimed 39 lives, highlighting significant deficiencies in crowd management practices across India.

Tharoor described the recurring nature of such incidents as heartbreaking and urged both central and state governments to implement rigorous safety measures and protocols for mass gatherings to prevent future tragedies.

During his address to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, Tharoor remarked, "This is an extremely tragic and painful situation. There appears to be a fundamental problem with crowd management in our country. These incidents seem to occur annually. We still remember Bengaluru. It's particularly heartbreaking when children lose their lives in such stampedes... My concern is about developing systematic national policies to protect ordinary citizens. When people gather enthusiastically to hear a politician who is also a film star, or to see cricketers who are celebrities, there should be fundamental rules, standards, and protocols in place..."

"I earnestly appeal to the central government and all state administrations to establish a set of rigorous procedures governing all large public gatherings regardless of circumstances, so we don't needlessly experience the grief and anguish of losing loved ones in these terrible stampedes," Tharoor added.

The calamity resulted in 40 fatalities at a public rally addressed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and actor Vijay in Karur, Tamil Nadu, on Saturday.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the families of the 39 victims of the Karur stampede would receive two lakh rupees each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. PM Modi also announced compensation of Rs 50,000 each for those injured in the tragic incident.

In a statement shared on social platform X, the PMO stated, "PM Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to be given to the next of kin of each deceased in the unfortunate incident at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu. The injured would be given Rs 50,000."