CHENNAI, (India): Even as the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is yet to fully recover from the shock of the ghastly stampede in Karur during a rally of party president and film star Vijay, which claimed the lives of 41 people, including women and children, the actor had disbursed without any fanfare Rs 20 lakh each to the families of the victims as announced by him.
The amount has been directly credited to the bank accounts of the family members of the deceased on Saturday (Oct 18), well ahead of the Diwali festival.
According to TVK sources, the party had transferred Rs 20 lakh each to 39 families, while the payment for the remaining two families is pending due to discrepancies in the bank account details of the beneficiaries.
The sources further said that Vijay was very particular that the compensation announced by him soon after the tragedy, reached them before his proposed visit to Karur to personally meet the families of the deceased.
Earlier, Chief Minister MK Stalin had announced a solatium of Rs 10 lakh each to the victims’ families, and the cheques were subsequently disbursed.
While the Congress has extended Rs 2.5 lakh each to the families, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi of Thol Thirumavalavan, MP, has provided Rs 50,000 each.
The Makkal Needhi Maiam of Kamal Hassan has given Rs 1 lakh each.
The TVK has asked its functionaries and cadre to shun Diwali celebration and keep it a low-key affair to mourn the loss of lives in the killer stampede.
Party functionaries have been instructed not to have Diwali celebrations.
"As we mourn the loss of our loved ones due to the unexpected incident in Karur, we request that no one associated with the party should celebrate Diwali this year.
"Our leader has instructed us to avoid Diwali celebrations as a tribute to those who have departed from us," according to a statement from Bussy N Anand, TVK general secretary. - The Statesman/ANN
