At least 31 dead, over 50 injured at Indian actor-politician Vijay’s rally | News

Vijay, who’s a widely known actor and goes by just one title, launched a political get together final yr.

At the least 36 folks have been killed and greater than 50 injured on Saturday at a rally held by Tamil actor Vijay, who’s campaigning for election, state officers mentioned.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin mentioned eight kids and 16 girls had been among the many 36 individuals who died within the district of Karur in Tamil Nadu throughout a political rally by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, Vijay’s get together.

Massive crowds had gathered for the assembly, a part of Vijay’s ongoing state tour for his political get together Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.

Vijay, who’s a widely known actor and goes by just one title, launched a political get together final yr and started campaigning this month prematurely of state elections which can be to be held early subsequent yr.

State lawmaker Senthil Balaji informed reporters that 58 folks had been hospitalised after what he mentioned was a stampede. He added that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin will go to the realm on Sunday.

“The unlucky incident throughout a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, is deeply saddening,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned in a put up on X.

Vijay, certainly one of Tamil cinema’s most bankable actors for 3 many years, has drawn huge crowds to his public conferences since launching his political get together, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, in 2024, which has focused each the state governing get together DMK and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Get together. He’s campaigning earlier than state elections which can be to be held in early 2026.

Movies from native media present 1000’s of individuals surrounding a big marketing campaign car on prime of which Vijay is seen standing and talking.

In the course of the rally, visuals confirmed Vijay throwing water bottles from the highest of the car to fainting supporters and calling for police assist when the group grew to become uncontrollable.

“My coronary heart is damaged; I’m in insufferable, indescribable ache and sorrow,” Vijay wrote on X.

At the least 44 docs from the close by districts of Tiruchirappalli and Salem had been despatched to Karur, media studies added.

Stalin has introduced 1 million Indian rupees ($11,280) every to the households of the victims who died within the incident and arrange an inquiry panel.

This isn’t the primary time Vijay’s rallies have confronted security considerations. At the least six deaths had been reported by media following the primary assembly of his political get together when it was launched in October final yr.

Regardless of police-imposed restrictions, together with limits on convoy dimension and venue adjustments, the sheer scale of public turnout has repeatedly overwhelmed native infrastructure.