Vijay Rally crush: More Than 30 Dead, in Stampede at Indian Actor-Politician Rally
- At least 31 people died and over 50 were injured due to a stampede at a rally led by actor and politician Vijay in Tamil Nadu, according to officials.
- Vijay paused his speech to assist those fainting in the crowd and urged medical help, stating that many had waited for hours to see him.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences for the lives lost, stating that the incident is deeply saddening and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
- Opposition leaders, including Edappadi K. Palaniswami, criticized the rally organizers and the state government for insufficient crowd safety measures, emphasizing the need for accountability in the tragedy.
At least 36 people were killed at an election campaign rally in southern India, according to the regional government. A mass panic broke out during a speech by politician Vijay.
At least 36 people were killed in a stampede during a major political event in southern India, according to the regional government. Among the dead were children and women, said the Chief Minister of the state of Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin. More than 50 other people were injured. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and called it a “deeply tragic” incident.
According to media reports, tens of thousands of people gathered in the town of Karur to hear a speech by Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar (Vijay), a popular actor and politician in the region. The attendance of approximately 30,000 or more spectators far exceeded the number expected by the organizers.
Tens of thousands of people – uncontrollable crowd
According to the Hindustan Times newspaper, eyewitnesses reported that chaos broke out in the evening (local time) as increasing numbers of people pressed toward the speaker’s platform. Many people lost consciousness in the crowd. Vijay interrupted his speech when he became aware of the chaos.
The speech by the politician from the regional Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party began more than six hours late, NDTV reported. More and more people had flocked to the event, and the crowd was uncontrollable.
Party founded by the popular actor
Vijay founded a party last year that will contest the regional elections in early 2026. It competes with Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and the regional ruling party, the DMK. Vijay is one of the most popular film actors in the Tamil ethnic group. According to media reports, six people were killed during the founding of his party last year.
