State police have filed a criminal case against leaders of Tamil actor Vijay’s political party following a stampede at his rally that left 39 people dead, a senior police official said on Sunday
Chennai, India — The death toll from a stampede at a political rally for popular Indian actor and politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, known professionally as Vijay, in Tamil Nadu has risen to 40, officials said Sunday. At least 124 people were injured and are being treated in hospitals, with most reported to be in stable condition.
State Health Minister Ma Subramanian told The Associated Press that 36 victims were dead upon arrival at hospitals on Saturday night, with four more succumbing later. Among the deceased were nine children.
The rally, held Saturday in the Karur district, drew tens of thousands of supporters amid sweltering heat. Vijay, a major film star turned politician, arrived more than six hours late, by which time the crowd had overwhelmed the venue. Witnesses reported that barricades and ropes were insufficient to control the massive gathering.
“A lot of barricades and ropes were placed around the venue, but the crowd became so large that nobody could control it,” said S. Sabesan, a local resident. Multiple people fainted during the rally, prompting Vijay to halt his speech and call for medical assistance.
Commenting on the Karur stampede, BJP leader K. Annamalai said, ‘This is not Vijay’s fault. It is the responsibility of the state police and intelligence to anticipate crowd behavior and deploy forces adequately. Why did the authorities allow a seven-hour event? Vijay was present for only 20 minutes, and with such a massive fan following, a large crowd was inevitable.
R. Rajendaran, a lawyer who witnessed the incident, said the stampede occurred when Vijay’s campaign vehicle began moving and hundreds of fans surged to follow it. Subramanian described the rally as having “indiscipline” and announced a government probe led by a former judge, with a report expected in one month.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has announced compensation of over $11,000 for each family of the deceased.
Vijay, who retired from acting in 2024 and launched his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, expressed deep sorrow hours after the incident. “My heart is shattered… I am writhing in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow that words cannot express,” he wrote on X. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also described the tragedy as “deeply saddening.”
Stampedes during large gatherings are not uncommon in India. Earlier this year, at least 30 people died during the Maha Kumbh festival when tens of thousands rushed to bathe in a sacred river.
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