The anger is raw in Karur. What should have been a triumphant campaign stop for superstar-turned-politician Vijay in this historical town in western Tamil Nadu ended in chaos after a cascade of mistakes: his van window kept shut, hundreds of fans chasing his convoy from the nearby city of Namakkal, wrong announcements from his organisers, and a tree branch collapsing on a restless crowd. Within 10 minutes, panic turned into a stampede.

Now, with the toll at 39, the town in mourning, and an inquiry ordered, the big question is what will happen to Vijay, who left for Chennai after the tragedy. Chief Minister M K Stalin flew to Karur in the night, meeting families and promising Rs 10 lakh compensation before returning to Chennai on Sunday morning. The toll, meanwhile, has risen to 39, incl

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