India witnessed a tragic incident as the death toll from a stampede at a political rally of retired film star and rising politician Joseph Vijay rose to 40, with more than 50 injured. The incident occurred on Saturday evening in Karur, Tamil Nadu.
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Incident Details
Tens of thousands of supporters of Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vitri Kazhagam, had gathered 400 km south of Chennai, awaiting his election speech ahead of the 2026 polls. Delays in his appearance—from noon until 4 PM—triggered a rush toward the temporary stage, causing a deadly stampede that killed 5 children, 17 women, 13 men, and 5 girls.
Government Response
The state Health Minister reported that most victims had died before reaching hospitals. A judicial committee led by retired judge Aruna Jagadisan was formed to investigate the incident, with compensation of 1 million rupees allocated for each deceased family member.
Party Accountability
Police opened a preliminary criminal investigation against party leaders for negligence. Attendance reportedly reached 40,000, despite permission being granted for only 4,000, amid poor security coordination.
Reactions
Vijay expressed grief on X: “Unbearable pain and indescribable sorrow… my heart is broken.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed deep sadness and called for restraint at large political gatherings.
From Screen to Politics
Vijay, nicknamed “Thalapathy” and “King of the Box Office,” starred in over 68 Tamil films, earning a total of roughly 3,000 crore rupees (~$360 million). In February 2024, he retired from acting to focus on politics, founding a party aimed at combating corruption, promoting rural development, and protecting Tamil identity in preparation for the 2026 elections.
Agencies
