‘It was human flood’: Survivors recall horror of stampede at TVK leader Vijay’s rally in Karur that killed 39; ropes blocked escape routes

KARUR: At least 39 people died in a stampede during TVK leader Vijay’s campaign in Karur on Saturday evening, Tamil Nadu health minister Ma Subramanian said. The dead included 10 children, 17 women, and 12 men. More than 80 people have been admitted to hospitals. Though the rush to find escape routes and of women trying to protect children from going missing in the frenzy were believed to have caused the stampede in the TVK rally in Karur on Saturday, hoardings and ropes on both sides of the Karur-Erode highway at the campaign venue in Veluswamypuram also played a deadly role. "There was no way for people to flee the stampede-like situation because both sides of the road were blocked with ropes and hoardings. Some were injured when the hoardings fell on them. I am sure, those hoardin