BJP Forms 8-Member Committee Led By Hema Malini To Investigate Fatal Karur Stampede That Killed 41

Many victims were women and children, and several remain in hospitals in Karur and Erode. (File)

Chennai:

In the wake of the tragic stampede at actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Tamil Nadu's Karur, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President J.P. Nadda, on Monday, formed an eight-member fact-finding committee headed by party MP and veteran actress Hema Malini.

This committee establishment follows mounting political and public outcry over the September 27 incident that resulted in 41 deaths and more than 60 injuries.

The fatal crush happened at Velayuthampalayam in Karur when thousands of attendees rushed forward attempting to see Vijay during an evening campaign event.

Eyewitnesses described panic ensuing after a sudden power outage and overcrowding near the stage area, which led to chaos and a stampede situation.

Women and children comprised many of the victims, with numerous injured individuals still receiving treatment in hospitals across Karur and Erode.

The NDA delegation led by Member of Parliament Hema Malini will include former Union Minister and Lok Sabha BJP MP Anurag Thakur, BJP MPs Tejasvi Surya, Brij Lal, Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde, BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Rekha Sharma, and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Putta Mahesh Kumar.

This committee is scheduled to visit the stampede location, meet with affected families, engage with local officials, and subsequently submit its findings to the BJP's Central leadership.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who inspected the site shortly after the incident, expressed profound grief and promised firm action following the submission of findings by the Justice Aruna Jagadeesan-led Commission of Inquiry.

Chief Minister Stalin also announced that the state government would develop new safety protocols for public gatherings to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

He urged restraint on social media platforms and requested the public to avoid spreading unverified information.

AIADMK General Secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami described the tragedy as "heart-wrenching" and called for a transparent investigation.

He raised concerns about the state's crowd management preparedness and urged the state government to ensure accountability for administrative failures.

TVK Chief Vijay, who characterized the deaths as a "political conspiracy," filed a petition with the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court requesting a CBI or independent investigation.

He announced financial support of Rs 20 lakh for each bereaved family and affirmed his party's solidarity with those who suffered devastating losses.

With multiple investigations now in progress—including the state's judicial probe, Vijay's legal petition, and the BJP's independent review—the Karur stampede has developed into a politically charged issue that may influence discourse ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.