Karur Tragedy: Bereaved Families Voice Anguish Over Loss and Leadership

Karur, Tamil Nadu: In the aftermath of the Karur stampede, bereaved family members, grappling with profound grief, shared emotional accounts of their loss.

One woman, speaking about the death of her cousin, asked, “If our loved ones die, will anyone give their life in return?” She expressed frustration at the disparity between political promises and the human cost of the tragedy. “The amount of relief money offered is nothing compared to the lives lost. What can anyone do now? He will take the money and leave for the next town. He went to the conference while we are lying on the streets. Who will look after our families?” she said, her voice trembling with anger.

Another family member criticized the political handling of the situation: “Why must politics overshadow human suffering? We were asked to gather at Namakkal at 8:45, and leaving for Chennai at that hour had serious consequences. Do you think assembling crowds and applying pressure is a solution? If the leaders had been present on the ground, this tragedy could have been prevented.”

Several affected individuals also expressed their frustration directly towards Vijay, accusing him of failing to provide adequate care and safety for attendees. Their accounts highlighted deep anger over what they perceive as negligence and political indifference, underscoring the lingering trauma in the community.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the stampede, which claimed 41 lives, including children, as public grief and anger remain palpable in Karur.