Karur rally stampede leaves 38 dead, bodies identified, and families in mourning. Officials face criticism for negligence in crowd safety.

In the aftermath of the stampede at the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam rally in Karur, officials have confirmed the identification of 38 victims. Fourteen bodies have already been returned to families, while one woman remains unidentified. Authorities said her body will be released after due procedures are completed.

According to health officials, two survivors admitted in critical condition continue to battle for life. Post-mortems have been carried out on most of the deceased at Karur Government Hospital. Medical teams insist that oxygen and medicines are in sufficient supply, though for the grieving families, such assurances offer little solace.

Beyond official statements, the tragedy exposes the repeated negligence around public gatherings in Tamil Nadu. Poor crowd management, lack of safety planning, and political apathy keep turning rallies into death traps. Unless accountability is fixed and crowd-control protocols strictly enforced, such disasters risk becoming a recurring nightmare for ordinary people.