A devastating stampede at a rally for Indian actor and politician Vijay in Karur, Tamil Nadu, has left at least 36 people dead and over 50 injured. The tragedy occurred on Saturday, September 27, 2025, as large crowds gathered to see the popular actor, who launched his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), in 2024. Among the deceased are eight children and sixteen women.
The incident took place during Vijay's campaign for the upcoming state elections in early 2026. The crowd began to swell as early as 9 a.m., hours before Vijay was scheduled to speak at 12 p.m. According to reports, the stampede was triggered when some of Vijay's supporters fell while attempting to get closer to his vehicle. Some fans who could not move further began fainting and falling down. Visuals from the rally also showed Vijay throwing water bottles to fainting supporters and requesting police assistance as the crowd became uncontrollable.
Health Minister Ma Subramanian stated that the victims were dead upon arrival at the hospital, while the injured are in stable condition. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who visited the injured on Sunday, has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh (approximately $12,000 USD) for the families of each victim.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, calling the incident "deeply saddening". Vijay also responded to the tragedy, stating that his "heart is shattered".
In the wake of the tragedy, questions are being raised about the planning and safety measures in place for the rally. Preliminary investigations suggest that poor planning and insufficient security contributed to the stampede. The organizers had initially proposed four locations for the rally, but police rejected them due to the areas being heavily populated business hubs. The police instead granted permission for the meeting to be held at Velusamypuram on Karur-Erode Road.
Stampedes are unfortunately common in India when large crowds congregate. In January 2025, at least 30 people died during the Maha Kumbh Mela festival. In June 2025, 11 fans were crushed to death in Bengaluru during celebrations for a local team's Indian Premier League title. Concerns about safety at Vijay's rallies have been raised before, with at least six deaths reported following the launch of his political party in October 2024.
