New Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Vice President Prof Salim Engineer expressed deep sorrow over the stampede at the TVK Vijay rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, which claimed nearly 39 lives and left dozens injured. Women, children, and vulnerable citizens were among the victims, while hospitals struggled to cope with the injured.
Prof Salim Engineer said the tragedy reflected a repeated failure in managing large gatherings. He recalled earlier incidents in Bengaluru during the RCB rally, Hathras, the Rath Yatra in Puri, and the Naina Devi Temple in Bilaspur. In each case, crowd estimates were inaccurate, safety measures were inadequate, and escape routes were blocked.
Eyewitness accounts from Karur indicated that barricades, ropes, and hoardings obstructed movement, amplifying panic when the crowd surged. Reports suggested that the permitted crowd size was far below the actual turnout. The delay in actor Vijay’s arrival, combined with poor planning and lack of emergency protocols, turned the rally into a disaster.
Calling for a high-level inquiry, Prof Salim Engineer urged authorities to identify those responsible and hold them accountable. He stressed that both the administration and event organizers must answer for the lapses that caused such loss of life.
He appealed to the government to ensure full compensation for affected families and adequate medical support for the injured. He added that institutional reforms are urgently needed to guarantee that no public gathering ends in such tragedy again.
“May the Almighty grant patience to the bereaved families and healing to the injured,” he said.
