At Least 40 Killed in Stampede at Actor-Politician Vijay’s Rally in Tamil Nadu

A political rally on September 27 featuring Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, a film star turned politician, popularly called Vijay, was followed by an unfortunate incident. A stampede took place at the venue and caused the deaths of at least 40 individuals while over 120 were hurt.

State officials confirmed an overnight rise in the death toll as several injured victims succumbed in hospital. Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian said nine children were among the dead.

How the Stampede Unfolded

The event snap happened in Karur district. At that spot, tens of thousands were present, to watch Vijay talk to the followers of his freshly setup party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The rally was authorized for 10,000 people, but the police later calculated that over twice as many had shown up.

Eyewitnesses said the stampede began after Vijay appeared to deliver his speech. Moreover, many had been waiting in the heat for hours without food or water.

His convoy entered the packed venue around 7:30 pm, and excitement turned into chaos. Some supporters perched in trees for a better view allegedly fell onto the crowd below, worsening the panic. The sheer number of people stopped ambulances from reaching the injured.

“There was an absolute lack of management,” a campaign source told sources, adding that organisers had earlier warned against following Vijay’s vehicle from other districts into Karur.

Chaos During Vijay’s Address

Witnesses said multiple people fainted during the address. Vijay, at one point, threw water bottles into the crowd and called for ambulances. But as his vehicle prepared to leave, large groups surged after it, triggering the fatal crush.

Reports indicate Vijay continued speaking initially, unaware of the full scale of the unfolding disaster. He later departed for Chennai, learning of the fatalities only after a stop in Trichy.

The actor has since remained silent publicly, except for a brief post on X: “My heart is shattered. I am writhing in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow that words cannot express.”

Official, Political Responses

On Sunday, M.K. Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, was in Karur to meet the families mourning the loss and to proclaim a compensation of ₹1 million (approximately S$16,300) to each bereaved household. Besides this, the injured would receive ₹200,000. He announced that a one-man inquiry commission chaired by a retired judge, Aruna Jagadeesan, had been constituted and would submit its report in a month. When he was asked if Vijay might be arrested, Stalin replied that the action would be based on the committee’s inquiry and then the next steps would be decided.

Detectives have also filed cases against local TVK organisers for failing to manage the rally crowd.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “deeply saddening” in a post on X, while several opposition leaders blamed both the party and the authorities for failing to enforce crowd limits.

A History of Safety Concerns?

This is not the first time Vijay’s rallies have faced scrutiny. Media reports alleged that at least six people have died since TVK’s founding in October 2024. Authorities had since imposed restrictions on convoy size and venue choices, but turnout has consistently overwhelmed local infrastructure.

The tragedy also highlights the risks of India’s celebrity-driven politics, particularly in Tamil Nadu, where actors often command fan followings on par with religious devotion.

Looking Ahead

State police chief G. Venkataraman acknowledged that the number of officers deployed was about 500 which was inadequate given the turnout. Medical teams from neighbouring districts rushed in overnight to treat the injured.

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