A stampede during Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam’s (TVK) rally in Karur’s Velusamypuram has left 41 people dead, with doctors confirming that most victims died of compressive asphyxia caused by chest pressure in the crowd crush.

Of the deceased, 39 were brought dead to Karur Government Medical College Hospital (KGMCH), while two were referred from private centres. The first casualty, a two-year-old boy, was admitted around 8 p.m., and within two hours, the toll escalated to 33. Many bodies showed rib and spinal fractures, indicating severe crowd pressure.

Tamil Nadu’s Director of Medical Education R. Suganthy Rajakumari confirmed that autopsies revealed suffocation as the primary cause of death. Sixteen doctors were deployed for the postmortems, and all 41 bodies have since been handed over to families.

Out of 110 injured individuals, 51 have been discharged, while 59 remain under treatment in government and private hospitals, including two critical cases in the ICU.

Pulmonologist Dr. Raj Tilak explained that in stampedes, blocked chest movement cuts oxygen supply to the brain within minutes, often proving fatal. The deceased included 18 women, 13 men, and 10 children.

Amid public concern over late-night autopsies, Tamil Nadu’s fact-check team clarified that a 2021 Union Health Ministry circular allows postmortems after 6 p.m. if facilities permit, particularly during emergencies.

The tragedy has sparked widespread shock, with authorities facing questions over safety arrangements at the political gathering.