Stampede at Tamil Nadu rally kills 36, including eight children
Health officials say most victims died before reaching hospital; authorities order an investigation into crowd management at actor-politician Vijay's Karur rally.
A stampede at a political rally in Tamil Nadu's Karur district on Saturday killed at least 36 people and injured 40 others, authorities said. Tamil Nadu health minister Ma Subramanian told The Associated Press that the victims died before reaching hospitals and that eight of the dead were children. The rally drew tens of thousands of people and was being addressed by Vijay, a popular actor-turned-politician who has risen rapidly in Tamil politics.
Witnesses described a chaotic crush as supporters surged toward Vijay's bus, pushing or tripping others and sending some people to the ground. Local media cited officials as saying that a group of fans and supporters fell while trying to get close to the campaign vehicle, triggering the deadly crush. Officials said the crowd's heat and the late arrival of the star contributed to the volatile conditions. Reports from officials and police described an indiscipline-laden scene that ultimately overwhelmed safety measures. An investigation was ordered to determine what went wrong and how crowd control could be improved at large political events.
Vijay was addressing the crowd from atop his campaign vehicle when dozens reportedly fainted in the audience, with some people rushed to area hospitals. The Press Trust of India, quoting officials, said at least 30 people fainted and were transported by ambulances as the rally continued briefly before he paused mid-speech and subsequently ended his remarks amid the unfolding chaos. Later, Vijay issued a statement on X, saying, "My heart is shattered. I am writhing in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow that words cannot express."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences, calling the incident deeply saddening and offering thoughts to the families of the victims and prayers for those injured. Modi's message was carried on social media and reflected the national reach of the event, which drew attention beyond Tamil Nadu's borders.
Tamil Nadu has a long-standing tradition of film stars entering politics, with some achieving near-sacrosanct status among fans. In 2024, Vijay retired from acting and launched his own political party, though it was unclear whether he planned to run for statewide office in the current cycle. The episode underscored ongoing concerns about crowd safety at large-scale political rallies in the region and the broader country, where stampedes at rites and political events have occurred in the past.
Even as investigators begin to sift through the causes of the tragedy, authorities cautioned that stampedes are not uncommon in India during large gatherings. Earlier this year, for instance, tens of thousands of devotees were caught in a deadly crush at a festival on the Ganges during the Maha Kumbh, highlighting the persistent safety challenges facing mass events in the country. In Karur, officials said emergency responders worked through the night to treat the injured and account for the missing while dispatching teams to hospitals and temporary care centers set up near the rally site.
As the investigation proceeds, the focus will be on crowd management measures, emergency access routes, and the distribution of security personnel and medical staff at future events. Authorities stressed the importance of orderly entrances and exits, clear crowd-control barriers, and rapid medical evacuation to prevent a recurrence of a disaster of this scale. The tragedy prompted a pause in political campaigning in the region as officials prepared to offer condolences to families and ensure that victims’ relatives receive required support.
