Inquiry Intensifies After Karur Stampede: Ambulance Drivers Questioned

Investigations into the stampede at actor-turned-politician Vijay’s rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, are ongoing, alongside political discussions. Police announced on Saturday that they questioned ambulance drivers who were on duty during the September 27th rally. The stampede resulted in the deaths of 41 people and injuries to 60 others. An officer from the Karur Town Police stated that 5 to 6 drivers present at the Velusamypuram event were questioned. Both government and private ambulance drivers from Karur and neighboring districts were interviewed. The police are seeking detailed information about who contacted the drivers, the number of calls made to government and private hospitals, and the number of ambulances deployed on September 27th. ADGP (Law and Order) Davidson Devasirvatham had previously mentioned that 5 ambulances, arranged by TVK, were stationed near the police quarters in the area. Following the incident, local police informed the authorities via microphone, and approximately 10 ambulances from Amaravati Hospital were immediately dispatched to the scene. The National SC/ST Commission, led by Kishore Makwana, visited the Karur area on Saturday, including the Velusamypuram site, to gather information about the circumstances of the stampede. The Madras High Court has ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by senior Indian Police Service officer Asra Garg, to investigate the Karur rally stampede. The court has reportedly criticized officials of Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) regarding the incident.