A TRAGEDY FORETOLD

LIGHTS AND SPEAKERS FAILED AFTER POWER CUT, FORCING PEOPLE TO MOVE IN CLOSER, SAY EYEWITNESSES | PERMISSION SOUGHT FOR 10,000 BUT 25,000 PEOPLE TURNED UP FOR THE EVENT IN KARUR, SAYS DGP | AFTER CROWD SURGE AT EARLIER EVENTS, PARTY HAD TOLD CADRES NOT TO BRING ALONG KIDS & ELDERLY, CLIMB ON POLES

- D VINCENT AROCKIARAJ @Karur

IT was a disaster waiting to happen as the unprecedented crowds converging at the actor-politician Vijay's political rallies over the past few months have raised questions on people's safety and turned crowd management a challenge for the police.

On Saturday, the scene was not much different in Karur, and the loud, welcoming cheers quickly turned into groans of agony after a stampede led to the death of at least 39 people at the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief's rally at Veluchamipuram. Eyewitnesses said amidst the loud cheers for Vijay's taunts of opponents, people inched in closer towards his campaign vehicle. Subsequently, pushing and jostling intensified, and people tumbled on each other.