Kin of people that had been killed in a stampede throughout a rally for a well-liked Indian actor and politician, mourn exterior a hospital, in Karur, within the southern state of Tamil Nadu, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.
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NEW DELHI — A stampede at a rally for a well-liked Indian actor and politician within the southern state of Tamil Nadu killed at the least 36 folks and injured 40 others, the state’s well being minister stated late Saturday.
Ma Subramanian advised The Related Press that the victims had been useless by the point they had been taken to a hospital and that the injured had been steady. The useless included eight youngsters, Subramanian stated.
The rally, which officers say was attended by tens of hundreds of individuals, was being addressed by Vijay, certainly one of Tamil Nadu’s most profitable actors-turned-politician within the district of Karur.
Indian media stories, quoting native officers, stated as Vijay spoke to the surging crowd, a bunch of his supporters and followers fell whereas attempting to get near his bus, inflicting the stampede. Supporters had gathered on the political rally amid intensely sizzling temperatures and Vijay arrived hours late, officers stated.
“There was indiscipline” on the rally, Subramanian stated, including that an investigation had been ordered.
Quoting officers, the Press Belief of India information company reported that at the least 30 folks fainted whereas Vijay was addressing the rally from atop his marketing campaign car and had been rushed in ambulances to space hospitals. He halted his speech mid-way when staff raised alarm after noticing that individuals had been fainting and falling, it stated, including that as they had been eliminated to hospitals, Vijay continued his speech.
Nonetheless, he ended his speech shortly after sensing an irregular scenario in a bit of the large gathering, the information company stated.
Hours after the accident, Vijay provided his condolences.
“My heart is shattered,” he posted on X. “I am writhing in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow that words cannot express.”
Kin of people that had been killed in a stampede throughout a rally for a well-liked Indian actor and politician, mourn as they take the our bodies from a hospital, in Karur, within the southern state of Tamil Nadu, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025.
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated the “unfortunate incident” was “deeply saddening.”
My ideas are with the households who’ve misplaced their family members. Wishing energy to them on this troublesome time. Praying for a swift restoration to all these injured,” he stated on social media.
In southern Indian states, notably Tamil Nadu, some movie stars have bigger than life standing, rooted within the historic Tamil tradition of hero worship and picture worship. Many have develop into politicians and a few have even been given divine standing.
In 2024, Vijay retired from appearing and launched his personal political celebration. It was unclear whether or not he plans to run for workplace in Tamil Nadu state.
Stampedes are comparatively frequent in India when massive crowds collect. In January, at the least 30 folks had been killed as tens of hundreds of Hindus rushed to wash in a sacred river throughout the Maha Kumbh pageant, the world’s largest non secular gathering.
