A political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, ended in tragedy on September 27 when a massive stampede killed at least 39 people and injured more than 50 others. The event, organized by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party founded by popular actor Vijay, drew far larger crowds than anticipated.
Organizers had expected about 30,000 people, but police estimated nearly 60,000 turned up to see the star. Despite crowd-control measures, the surge of people pressing forward to catch a glimpse of Vijay caused chaos. Many suffocated or lost consciousness in the crush.
Eyewitnesses said tensions escalated after Vijay arrived more than seven hours late, sparking unrest in the tightly packed crowd. Ambulance sirens were heard from as early as 7:30 p.m., with reports of women and children fainting in the crowd.
One grieving relative told local media that his brother and two children had been at the rally — one child had died, another was missing, and other family members were in intensive care. “What am I supposed to do? The children have even lost their eyesight,” he cried.
Video from the scene showed thousands surrounding a campaign truck as people pushed forward to secure front-row spots for Vijay’s speech. The actor reportedly called police for help when he saw the situation spiraling out of control.
In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), Vijay wrote, “My heart is broken. I feel unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow,” extending condolences to the victims’ families. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called the tragedy “unfortunate and deeply saddening.”
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin confirmed that 39 people were killed — 13 men, 17 women, four boys and five girls — and 51 others were hospitalized with serious injuries. He announced compensation of one million rupees (about NT$343,000) for each victim’s family and 100,000 rupees (about NT$34,000) in medical aid for the injured. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
Vijay, a major box-office draw for three decades, formed TVK in 2024 and has held several large rallies ahead of the 2026 elections. A similar crowd surge last October reportedly killed at least six people, raising renewed concerns over safety at his events.
