'What happened in Karur should not have happened, appropriate action will be taken'; M K Stalin visits hospital

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin visited the hospital in Karur early Sunday morning. He said that he was unable to describe the horrific accident that happened in Karur. He also told media that this incident has not happened in an event organized by a political party. The chief minister added that as soon as he came to know about the incident last night, he contacted Karur MLA and former minister Senthil Balaji over the phone.

'What happened should not have happened. The cause of the accident needs to be clarified in the judicial investigation. Appropriate action will be taken at the end of the investigation. On the question of whether Vijay will be arrested, it is not possible to say now who will be arrested and who will not be. Let the truth come out in the investigation,' said Stalin. The chief minister visited the morgue and paid his last respects to those who lost their lives in the tragedy. He also visited the injured. He left after holding a review meeting in the hospital.

The official report said 39 people have died in yesterday's tragedy so far. Of these, 17 are women. Four boys and five girls died. The bodies of 35 people have been identified so far. 28 of them are natives of Karur. However, the actor and TVK leader Vijay leaving the venue soon after the stampede broke out, has sparked a controversy. Vijay did not react to the situation and returned to Chennai via Trichy in a caravan. Police security has been tightened in front of Vijay's house.

Vijay had reacted to the incident through his official X page. The actor responded ‘My heart is shattered, I am writhing in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow that words cannot express. I extend my deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of my dear brothers and sisters who lost their lives in Karur. I pray for the swift recovery of those receiving treatment in the hospital,’ he said.