Stampede at Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam rally โLeaves Over 30 Dead in Chennai
Chennai, India – A stampede at a โฃpoliticalโค rallyโ for Tamil actor and newly-minted politician vijay in Chennai, india, has left more than 30 people dead and dozens injured, authorities confirmed Sunday. The incident โoccurred โlate Saturday as supporters gathered for an event hostedโ by Vijay‘s Tamilaga โVettri Kazhagam party,โค launched inโ 2024.
The rally โdrew massiveโฃ crowds, and the cause of โthe stampede remains under examination. Initial reports suggestโฃ the surge occurredโค as โขattendees โคattempted to enterโค the venue โฃto receive gifts and assistance from Vijay.
“My heart โis โฃshattered,” Vijay posted โon X following the โฃincident. “I am writhing in โunbearable, indescribable pain and โsorrow that words โcannot express.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences,stating the incident was “deeplyโ saddening.” “My thoughts are with the families โขwho have lost their loved ones,” โModi said on socialโฃ media. โ”Wishingโ strength to them in โคthis challenging time. Praying for a swift recovery to โฃall those injured.”
Stampedes have tragically โoccurred at โคlarge gatheringsโ inโ India before. In โฃJanuary, atโค least 30 peopleโ were killed duringโฃ the โฃMaha Kumbh festival as โคpilgrimsโ rushed to bathe in a sacred โriver. Last July, 121 people โคdied at a religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh state.
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam was founded by Vijay earlier this year,markingโ his entry into formalโข politics after decades as a leading figure โin the Tamil film industry.
AP/Reuters/AFP