CHENNAI/BENGALURU: At least 36 people, including eight children and 16 women, were killed and more than 50 others injured on Saturday in a stampede during a rally of Tamil actor-turned-politician Vijay in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin said.
The incident occurred in Karur district during a gathering of Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. State legislator Senthil Balaji said 58 people were admitted to hospitals following the incident.
Vijay, one of Tamil cinema’s most popular actors, launched his party in 2024 and has been drawing massive crowds ahead of state elections due in early 2026. His campaign has positioned itself against both the state’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
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Local media aired videos showing Vijay addressing supporters from atop a campaign vehicle. As the crowd surged, he was seen throwing water bottles to fainting attendees and calling police for help when the situation turned chaotic.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences, saying on X that the tragedy was “deeply saddening.” At least 44 doctors from nearby districts of Tiruchirappalli and Salem were deployed to Karur, media reported.
This is not the first safety concern at Vijay’s events. In October last year, six people died at the launch of his party. Despite police-imposed restrictions on convoy sizes and venue changes, the turnout at his rallies has consistently overwhelmed local infrastructure.