Heat stress may have played key role in Karur stampede, says study

The 41 deaths that occured in Karur during a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally on September 27 may have been significantly influenced by extreme heat stress, according to an analysis by Poovulagin Nanbargal, a Chennai-based environmental collective led by researchers Anu Mani, Priya Suresh, and Nigazh.

The study, which used the Punal framework and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), suggests that oppressive heat, crowd density, and inadequate event planning combined to create conditions of mass thermophysiological stress. Independent verification of the study’s claims is awaited.

The rally, held on Velusamypuram Road in Karur, was delayed by nearly seven hours, resulting in thousands of attendees standing in direct sunlight for over six hours. The narrow venue, surrounded by bui