**Rishab Shetty Reacts to Tragic Stampede at Vijay’s Rally in Karur**
Actor Rishab Shetty, currently enjoying the success of his latest film *Kantara: Chapter 1*, has expressed his thoughts on the tragic stampede that occurred during Tamil actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Karur, which claimed over 40 lives.
In a recent interview with NDTV, Rishab referred to the incident as a “collective mistake” and called it unfortunate. He stated, “If we like a hero or his character, we do hero worship. How can I comment on that (the stampede)? It’s unfortunate when these accidents happen; around 40 people died there. I don’t think it could be one person’s mistake; maybe it was a collective mistake made by many. Maybe it could have been controlled. That’s why we call it an accident.”
The actor-director further added, “It was not intentional. We should take precautions. But who will control a mob? How can I comment on that? We can easily blame the police or government; they also have a responsibility. But sometimes they will also have trouble controlling the crowd.”
### Vijay’s Response to the Tragedy
On October 7, Vijay personally spoke to the families of those who lost their lives in the stampede through a video call. During the conversation, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
### Details of the Stampede Incident
At least 41 people died during the stampede at Vijay’s rally, with over 60 others reported to have sustained injuries. According to state police, more than 30,000 people had gathered at the event, although the venue’s capacity was only around 10,000. Authorities noted that several security guidelines were violated, and arrangements for food and drinking water were inadequate.
An FIR has been filed in connection with the tragedy, holding the TVK chief responsible. The FIR states that Vijay remained inside his campaign vehicle at the venue for an extended period, which caused overcrowding and unrest among the crowd.
### Legal and Political Fallout
While three members of Vijay’s party have been booked in connection with the stampede, no FIR has been filed against Vijay himself. Meanwhile, the actor-politician is facing criticism from the ruling DMK government over the incident.
As investigations continue, the tragedy has sparked widespread discussions about crowd management and safety protocols at large political gatherings across the region.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/it-was-not-intentional-kantara-star-rishab-shetty-reacts-to-death-of-over-40-people-in-vijays-karur-rally-stampede
