At least 40 people have died and 124 were injured following a stampede at a political rally for actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar in Karur district, Tamil Nadu, state health minister Ma Subramanian said Sunday. Nine children were among the deceased.
Tens of thousands had gathered on Saturday under sweltering heat. Vijay, a former actor with massive local popularity, arrived six hours late, prompting crowd congestion. As his vehicle departed, supporters surged forward, triggering the stampede.
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Authorities cited crowd indiscipline and announced a probe led by a former judge. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin pledged over $11,000 to families of each victim. Vijay expressed profound sorrow on social media, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the tragedy “deeply saddening.”
Stampedes are not uncommon in India, where large gatherings frequently overwhelm safety measures.