39 dead in stampede at Vijay Thalapathy’s political rally in India

(Web Desk): A tragic stampede at a political rally for actor-turned-politician Vijay Thalapathy has claimed the lives of 39 people, with more than 30 others injured, according to local media and officials.

The incident occurred yesterday in the Karur district, along the Erode Highway, during a political rally organized by Vijay’s party. Thousands of people had gathered to catch a glimpse of the popular action hero, waiting for hours in intense heat without adequate safety arrangements.

Reports say nearly 27,000 people assembled on a public road to see Vijay. As soon as the actor appeared on stage, a surge of fans rushed toward him, causing chaos and a deadly stampede.

Eyewitnesses cited hours-long delays, insufficient police presence, and even people falling from tree branches onto the crowd below as contributing factors. Some had climbed trees to get a better view and fell during the rush, triggering panic.

The Tamil Nadu state police have filed a criminal case against leaders of Vijay’s political party. Senior police official V. Selvaraj told Reuters that filing the case is a first step toward possible charges and that an investigation is underway.

According to Selvaraj, the party had originally sought permission for a gathering of 10,000 people, but the actual crowd far exceeded that number. Vijay was delivering a speech when the surge began, forcing him to stop mid-address.

Videos circulating on social media show the actor handing out water bottles to his supporters shortly before the crowd began pushing forward. In a statement released after the incident, the 51-year-old actor said his heart was broken by the tragedy.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin confirmed that nine children were among the dead and announced a judicial inquiry into the incident.

Stampedes during large gatherings are not uncommon in India. Earlier this year, at least six people were killed in a stampede at a holy temple in Uttarakhand, northern India. Last year, 121 people died in a similar incident during a Hindu prayer gathering in Uttar Pradesh.