CHENNAI/BENGALURU — At least 36 people, including eight children and 16 women, were killed in a stampede at a political rally for Tamil actor-turned-politician Vijay on Saturday, Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister MK Stalin confirmed. More than 50 others were injured in the chaos in Karur district.
State lawmaker Senthil Balaji said 58 people were hospitalized following the incident. Emergency teams rushed to the scene, with at least 44 doctors from nearby Tiruchirappalli and Salem districts deployed to treat the injured.
Vijay, one of Tamil cinema’s most celebrated stars, has drawn huge crowds since launching his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, in 2024. Campaigning ahead of the 2026 state elections, his rallies have frequently overwhelmed local infrastructure despite restrictions on convoy sizes and venue changes.
Videos from the Karur rally showed Vijay standing atop a campaign vehicle, tossing water bottles to fainting supporters as the crowd surged out of control. He was also seen calling for police assistance as panic spread.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening.”
This is not the first time safety issues have arisen at Vijay’s events. Last year, at least six deaths were reported during the party’s launch rally. Saturday’s tragedy highlights the ongoing challenges of crowd control at his massively attended gatherings, where sheer turnout often exceeds local capacity to manage public safety.