The father of a college student injured in a road accident during the campaign visit of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader and actor Vijay at Sengipatti in Thanjavur district has spoken out in distress, describing how he learned of the incident only hours after his son had left home claiming he was going to college.
The campaign meeting, held on 4 March 2026, drew large crowds, with several supporters reportedly following Vijay’s convoy on two-wheelers as he travelled from Tiruchirappalli airport to the event venue.
According to police and local reports, the accident occurred around 11:30 AM along the Manaieripatti road. Two youths, Vignesh and his friend Arun, who were travelling together on a Honda Activa scooter collided with a road median while riding behind the convoy.
Vignesh sustained serious head injuries, while Arun suffered fractures to his back and leg. They were initially taken to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital and later shifted to a private hospital for further treatment.
Speaking to reporters outside the hospital, Pandian, Vignesh’s father, said he had no idea his son had gone to attend the event.
“The kids had gone to college. They took a rented two-wheeler and went. I had only given him a battery scooter. If he takes a bigger bike, I usually scold him. That’s why he changed the vehicle,” he said.
“He left in the morning saying he was going to college.”
When asked if he knew his son had come to the event, Pandian replied, “No, I didn’t know. Another boy called him and brought him here. Two of them came together.”
He said the family only learned of the accident hours later.
“I only came to know after 11:30 a.m. that my son had met with an accident.”
Pandian, who said he runs a small milk business, explained that he believed his son had attended college that morning.
“I thought he had gone to college. I was even thinking of going to the college to ask why they had let students leave around 10 AM without any reason,” he said.
“If there was a meeting, shouldn’t the parents have been informed? I believed he was at college. I don’t even know whether he had finished his class or if he was still there.”
According to him, the boys had indeed attended college earlier in the day.
“The boys had gone to college. After 11:30, when news came that an accident like this had happened, that’s when we came here. When asked, they say they came back from college. How exactly they got here, we don’t know. But they were in college until 10 o’clock. Only after 10 did they leave.”
When asked about the students involved, he said there were two boys – twins.
“Two boys – twins. Their names are Vignesh and Kumaresh,” he said, adding that both were third-year students in the same course in National College in Trichy.
Doctors, he said, have asked the family to wait for at least two days before giving any clear update on their condition.
“They asked to pay the money. They said to wait and see. It will take two days. They said they cannot say anything in between.”
Pandian also revealed the financial strain the family now faces as the treatment continues.
“They have asked for ₹2 lakhs,” he said when asked about the hospital expenses.
Despite the financial burden, he said he would do whatever it takes to save his children.
“I will sell whatever I have and save my children. Even if I lose everything for this, it doesn’t matter – I must save my children and ensure they study. They have to turn over a new leaf.”
He explained that the family was already under financial stress due to previous medical expenses.
“We eat, we manage, we somehow get by. I just got my wife operated on. I managed ₹12 lakhs at Kaveri hospital somehow. Before that was even over, this next one keeps continuing – what to do.”
“We are managing both the education expenses and this. At that point, all we can do is place the burden on God and move forward.”
When asked whether anyone from the political party had contacted the family or offered assistance, Pandian said no one had approached them.
“They haven’t come. I have been telling them from the beginning not to attend their events. What is this party going to do for us? We eat by our own labour. They will just keep watching, that’s all.”
Referring to earlier incidents at political gatherings, he added with visible anguish: “The ones who did not bother to visit the 41 victims who died in Karur, you think he will come to see them?”
En wife-ku operation panna 12 lakhs aachu, somehow samalichiten🥲 Ippo en paiyanukkum ippadi aagiruchu. Enna analum paathukalam. Indha katchi vandhu enna panna pogudhu? Nee earn pannadhu dhaan unakku saapadu.💯
Being a man is not an easy thing 💔 pic.twitter.com/3rDsY19vNC
— Sekar 𝕏 (@itzSekar) March 4, 2026
Meanwhile, reports indicate that several supporters were injured in separate accidents on the same day while attempting to follow Vijay’s convoy near Muniyampatti, as motorcycles tried to overtake each other on the road.
Social media posts circulated after the incident claimed that a police vehicle reversing near the spot had caused the crash, but the Tamil Nadu government’s fact-checking unit rejected the claim, stating that the accident was not caused by a police vehicle and warning against the spread of misinformation.
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