At least 36 people, including 8 children, 16 women, were killed at a stampede and about 50 were injured at a rally held by Tamil actor and politician Vijay in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin said on Saturday.
Large crowds had gathered for the meeting, part of Vijay’s ongoing state tour for his political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.
The chief minister also announced a Commission of Inquiry to be led by Justice Aruna Jagadeesan to probe into the deadly incident.
The incident occurred as Vijay’s campaign vehicle crawled through a sea of supporters. The swelling crowd became uncontrollable, leading to several people, including party workers and children, fainting and falling.
Ambulances struggled to negotiate the jam-packed thoroughfares to reach the spot, and chaotic scenes were reported from local hospitals where many were admitted — some battling for their lives.
Vijay, who was addressing the crowd, stopped his speech midway, appealed for police assistance and personally threw water bottles from atop the campaign bus to the fainting supporters. He later ended his speech earlier than scheduled. A child was reported missing.
Police resorted to baton-charge to disperse the gathering after the hospitalisation of several persons.
According to officials, the stampede broke out in the evening, around 7.30 pm, just as actor-politician Vijay was addressing supporters who had gathered in huge numbers in the afternoon and were waiting for hours to get a glimpse of the TVK leader, also a top movie star.
Videos widely shared on social media showed women performing ‘aarathi’ to welcome Vijay, and fans presenting gifts, including a bunch of bananas received by his security team.
Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry has sought a report on the stampede from the Tamil Nadu government. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi and Stalin to take stock of the situation post-stampede at Karur and assured all possible central help.
Ministers, senior officials, and police officers rushed to Karur as the number of injured and those feared dead continued to rise.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said he had advised Health Minister Ma Subramanian and the district collector to render all possible assistance and directed School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi to reach Karur.
Calling the reports from the district “worrisome,” Stalin said the government was closely monitoring the situation and ensuring medical support for the hospitalised.
President Droupadi Murmu expressed anguish over the tragic loss of lives in the incident and extended her deepest condolences to the bereaved family members.
PM Modi, condoling the deaths, said: "The unfortunate incident during a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, 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." "Deeply pained by the tragic loss of lives in a stampede in Karur, Tamil Nadu. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. I pray to the Almighty to give them the strength to bear this grief and for the speedy recovery of the injured," Shah wrote on X.
(With inputs from agencies)