The death toll following the stampede at Rajaji Hall on Wednesday, rose to five. Seven others, including a woman police constable, who were injured and admitted in Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, continue to be under treatment there.
Things went out of control as the crowd which had come to pay last respects to DMK President M.Karunanidhi at Rajaji Hall, surged up the steps to get a glimpse of the late leader whose body was kept for public view. The police personnel struggled to control the crowd and used force to push them back resulting in the stampede.
Over 25 persons were injured. They were rushed to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital for treatment. Of them, Senbagam, 60, of MGR Nagar , L.Mohan, 65, of Vellore, were declared brought dead by the doctors while two more — Saravanan, 37, and Durai, 56, of Madurai died later at the hospital. Jagathish Karthik, manager of a private firm died due to stampede, his wife Sumithra alleged in a complaint with the Mylapore police. She said her husband who left the house in the morning to Rajaji Hall was stuck in the stampede. On his return around 3 p.m, he collapsed after drinking water.
On Thursday, DMK working president M.K.Stalin visited the injured at the RGGGH and enquired about their health. The City Police Commissioner, A.K.Viswanathan, also visited them at the hospital and requested the doctors to extend all assistance until they recovered completely.
According to the police, Anitha, Grade I police constable with Peravallur Police, K. Aravindh, 24, of Kallakurichi, V. Kanikaran, 24, of Ekattuthangal, Prabakaran, 65, of Puzhal, Kenndy, 55, of Anna Nagar, M. Nagoor Kani, 53, of Kovilambakkam and Thangaraj, 60, are those undergoing treatment at the RGGGH after being injured during the stampede at Rajaji Hall.
