Stampede at Indian Actor-Politician Vijay‘s Rally Leaves Dozens Dead
Karur, India – A stampede at a political rally led by Tamil actor and politician Vijay has resulted in at least 36 deaths and over 50 injuries in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, officials confirmed late Saturday. Among the victims are eight children.
Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian reported to the Associated Press that all those who died had been pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital, while the injured are currently in stable condition.
The rally,addressed by Vijay who is campaigning for upcoming state elections,drew massive crowds. Vijay, a prominent figure in tamil cinema for three decades, launched his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, in 2024, and has as attracted significant public support, targeting both the ruling DMK party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party. state elections are scheduled for early 2026.
“My heart is shattered,” Vijay stated on X (formerly Twitter), expressing his condolences. “I extend my deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of my dear brothers and sisters who lost their lives in Karur.”
Local media footage depicts thousands of supporters surrounding the campaign vehicle Vijay was using to address the crowd. Reports indicate Vijay attempted to alleviate the situation by throwing water bottles to fainting supporters and requesting police assistance as the crowd became unmanageable.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his sadness over the incident, stating on social media, “This is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. wishing strength to them in this tough time.”
stampedes are unfortunately not uncommon in india during large gatherings. Recent incidents include a January event at the Maha Kumbh Mela festival, where at least 30 people were killed, and a July 2023 religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh that resulted in 121 fatalities. In June of this year, 11 fans died in Bengaluru during celebrations for a local cricket team’s championship win.
This is not the first time safety concerns have been raised regarding vijay’s rallies. Following the launch of his party in October of last year, media reports indicated at least six deaths occurred at his first public meeting.Despite police efforts to mitigate risks – including restrictions on convoy size and venue adjustments – the overwhelming turnout has consistently strained local infrastructure.
