The Union government fulfilled its commitment on Friday by crediting ₹2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) directly into the bank accounts of the families of the 41 individuals who lost their lives in the devastating stampede during a Tamil Vanniar Katchi (TVK) election rally in Karur on September 27. Multiple bereaved families reported receiving SMS notifications from their banks confirming the transfer, bringing a measure of financial closure to one of Tamil Nadu’s worst crowd disasters in recent years.

In contrast to the Centre’s delayed action, the Tamil Nadu government had acted with urgency, releasing ₹10 lakh per deceased family, ₹1 lakh for those with major injuries, and ₹50,000 for minor injuries within just two weeks of the tragedy. However, both the Union government and TVK have yet to disburse the promised ₹50,000 to over 100 injured survivors, including 94 from Karur district. TVK officials explained that meticulous verification of the official injury list is underway to prevent fraud and ensure only legitimate claimants receive compensation, with disbursements expected imminently.

Days after the incident, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Minister of State L Murugan visited the stampede site, consoled grieving families, and announced the PMNRF assistance package. Senior TVK functionaries confirmed that only the kin of the deceased will be invited to Chennai for a formal condolence meeting with party president and actor Vijay, deliberately excluding the injured from the delegation to maintain focus on the most severe losses.

Also Read: TVK Fulfills Vijay’s Promise: ₹20 Lakh Aid Sent to 39 Karur Victim Families

Separately, the Madras High Court has taken up the bail plea of retired police officer R Varadarajan, arrested on October 7 for allegedly making defamatory statements against a High Court judge. The judge had directed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged lapses leading to the Karur stampede. After a lower court rejected bail, Varadarajan approached the HC. Justice K Rajasekar granted the state additional time to respond and adjourned the hearing to October 27, mandating a detailed police counter-affidavit.

The parallel developments—financial relief reaching victims and judicial scrutiny over accountability—highlight the complex aftermath of the Karur tragedy. While monetary aid offers immediate support, ongoing legal battles and delayed compensation for the injured underscore lingering questions about responsibility, crowd management, and political liability in one of Tamil Nadu’s most scrutinized election-related disasters.

Also Read: Vijay Welcomes Supreme Court’s CBI Probe Order in Tamil Nadu Stampede Case