KARUR, India (Diya TV) — At least 41 people died and nearly 100 were injured in a crowd crush at a political rally for Indian actor-turned-politician Vijay in Tamil Nadu, officials said Monday. The tragedy unfolded during a campaign event for Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party in Karur district, drawing tens of thousands of supporters.
The event began as a celebration, but turned deadly when the massive crowd surged toward a campaign truck where Vijay was speaking. Videos on local media showed the actor addressing supporters from the roof of the vehicle. He tossed water bottles to fainting fans and later pleaded with police for help as the crush intensified.
Officials said the updated death toll included 18 women, 14 men, four boys, and five girls. “My heart is broken; I am in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow,” Vijay wrote on X. He expressed condolences to the families and promised compensation. His party pledged 2 million rupees ($22,500) for each victim’s family and 200,000 rupees ($2,200) for those injured, doubling the government’s offer.
The tragedy has left families across Tamil Nadu shattered. Durai Swamy said his brother lost his wife and two young daughters, ages 8 and 4. “He is distraught; he won’t talk to me. His entire family is gone,” Swamy told CNN. Another grieving family was filmed by ANI as they received their loved one’s body.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and desperation. “Ambulances couldn’t get in. There wasn’t enough space for people to stand,” said Suriya, who attended the rally. Another witness added, “Nothing could be done to control the crowd. Everyone came excited to see a star. What can anyone do if 10, 15 times more people show up than expected?”
Local media reported that 44 doctors from nearby Salem and Tiruchirappalli districts rushed to Karur to treat the injured. Still, the overwhelming size of the crowd hampered rescue efforts. Some witnesses blamed a sudden power cut for sparking panic.
Police officials admitted that organizers had arranged a larger space due to Vijay’s ability to draw huge audiences. But despite the precautions, the crush proved fatal. “What happens is that people also follow the vehicles, and they don’t stay there. They will follow the vehicle, so that’s also the issue and adds to the pressure here,” said Davisdon Devasirvatham, director general of Tamil Nadu Police.
Authorities have filed a criminal case against several party leaders, senior police officer V. Selvaraj told Reuters. The state’s chief minister, MK Stalin, called the incident unprecedented and ordered a judicial inquiry led by a High Court judge.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow in a post on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening.” The deaths have raised serious questions about safety at political rallies in India, especially those involving film stars who often enjoy near-celebrity worship from fans.
Vijay, a major figure in Tamil cinema for more than three decades, launched his political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam last year. His rallies have drawn crowds of 25,000 to 30,000 people as he positions himself against both the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu and Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of state elections.
But safety concerns are not new. Last October, at least six people died after the party’s first public meeting. Despite restrictions on convoy sizes and changes to venues, Vijay’s popularity has continued to overwhelm local infrastructure.
As Karur mourns, the scale of loss has become clear. Families who came to see their beloved star instead left with the bodies of their loved ones. “It was very difficult and gut-wrenching to see what happened,” said Zakir, another bereaved relative.
Stalin promised that the inquiry would identify the causes and prevent such tragedies in the future. Meanwhile, critics have pointed to poor planning and inadequate crowd control as key factors.
