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At least 36 people have been killed and dozens injured during a stampede at a rally for actor-turned-politician Vijay – a huge star in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Ma Subramanian, the state’s health minister, said at least 40 people were injured at the event, and that the death toll included eight children.
Vijay, one of Tamil cinema’s biggest actors for three decades, has drawn massive crowds to his public meetings since launching his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, in 2024.
Indian media reports, quoting local officials, said the stampede was triggered when a group of Vijay’s supporters and fans fell while trying to get close to his bus.
Footage also showed Vijay throwing water bottles from the top of the vehicle to fainting supporters during the rally, and calling for police help when the crowd became uncontrollable.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X: “The unfortunate incident during a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, is deeply saddening.”
Stampedes are relatively common in India when large crowds gather. In June, at least 11 people died after a crush outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium after the team won their first IPL title.
It is also not the first time Vijay’s rallies have faced safety concerns, with at least six deaths reported after the first meeting of his political party when it was launched in October last year.
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