NEW DELHI (AP) — The death toll has risen to 40 years following a stampede at a political rally of popular Indian actors and politicians in southern Tamil Nadu, the state health minister said on Sunday after medical professionals were injured at least 124 people in the hospital.
Ma Subramanian told The Associated Press that 36 casualties had died before being taken to hospital on Saturday night, and four more later. He said the injured are largely stable. The deaths included nine children, Subramanian said.
Tens of thousands of people gathered in the Karuru district on Saturday to attend a rally of Joseph Vijay Chandrasekar, commonly and professionally known as Vijay, in the heat. Vijay is one of the most successful actors in Tamil Nadu and has been appointed in the state election scheduled for early 2026.
In southern India states, particularly Tamil Nadu, some film stars are bigger than life conditions rooted in the ancient Tamil culture of hero worship. Many have become successful politicians, some have even been given the status of God.
S. Sabesan, a local resident at the rally, said Vijay is due to address the rally around noon but would arrive more than six hours late. He said by then a large crowd had suffocated the road.
“A lot of barricades and ropes were placed around the venue,” he added that due to crowd control, the crowd had grown so large that “no one could control it.”
Sabesan, a 42-year-old textile businessman, said:
R. Rajendaran, Karur’s lawyer who witnessed the Larry and the subsequent accident, said at one point that Vijay had threw a bottle of water into the crowd from above the campaign vehicle.
“As he decided to leave and his car started moving, his fans and supporters chased his car, causing a stir,” Rajendaran said. “That’s what led to Stampede.”
The Minister, Subramanian, said at the meeting there was “undisciplined.” He said the government has released an investigation led by a former judge who will file a report in a month.
Tamil Nadu Prime Minister MK Stalin has announced more than $11,000 each to the families of the dead.
Vijay retired from acting in 2024 and launched his own political party, Tamiraga Vetri Kazhagam. He attracted a large crowd to his public meeting.
Hours after the accident, Vijay expressed his apologies.
“My heart is shattered,” he posted on X.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the “unfortunate incident” was “deeply saddened.”
Stampedes are relatively common in India when large crowds gather. In January, at least 30 people were killed as tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to bathe in the sacred river during the Mahakumbh Festival, the world’s largest religious gathering.
