39, including children, killed in stampede at political rally in India

A massive tragedy unfolded in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu,  where 39 people, including nine children and 17 women, were killed in a stampede during a political rally. Officials said 46 people were injured.

The incident occurred at Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay's rally in Tamil Nadu's Karur district. Police sources told NDTV some people had fainted at a point where large numbers had surged forward, triggering the stampede. 

A senior police officer estimated that "at least 30,000 people had gathered" at the venue, where Vijay was scheduled to speak after his earlier rally in Namakkal.  

His arrival, however, was delayed by more than seven hours, by which time the crowds had swelled uncontrollably.

As the crowd swelled and people started getting suffocated because of the heat and overcrowding, Vijay stopped his speech and started throwing bottles of water at the crowd to help, videos showed.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sought a report from the Tamil Nadu government on the incident, sources said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, in a post on X, expressed shock over the tragedy. He has ordered an investigation into the stampede by a one-member panel, headed by retired high court judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan.

"I have ordered an ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident and Rs 1 lakh for those undergoing intensive treatment in hospitals," Stalin said in a statement.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the unfortunate incident during the political rally in Karur is deeply saddening.

"My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. Wishing strength to them in this difficult time. Praying for a swift recovery to all those injured," he said.

After the incident, Vijay went to the airport in Trichy and took a flight to Chennai. He declined to give a comment to the media and hid his face from the cameras at the airport. He spoke on the incident for the first time only after he landed in the state capital.

"My heart is shattered, writhing in pain," he said.

Referred to by fans and media as "Thalapathy" (commander), Vijay is the highest-paid actor in Tamil cinema.

The police have filed a case against Muthiyazhagan, the Karur district secretary of the TVK. He was one of the party members responsible for organising Vijay's rally.