Stampede at a political rally for well-liked actor Vijay in southern India kills 36, injures 40 : NPR

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Uncredited/AP NEW DELHI — A stampede at a rally for a preferred Indian actor and politician within the southern state of Tamil Nadu killed at the least 36 folks and injured 40 others, the state's well being minister mentioned late Saturday.

Ma Subramanian informed The Related Press that the victims had been useless by the point they had been taken to a hospital and that the injured had been secure. The useless included eight kids, Subramanian mentioned.

The rally, which officers say was attended by tens of hundreds of individuals, was being addressed by Vijay, certainly one of Tamil Nadu's most profitable actors-turned-politician within the district of Karur.

Indian media reviews, quoting native officers, mentioned as Vijay spoke to the surging crowd, a gaggle of his supporters and followers fell whereas attempting to get near his bus, inflicting the stampede. Supporters had gathered on the political rally amid intensely sizzling temperatures and Vijay arrived hours late, officers mentioned.

"There was indiscipline" on the rally, Subramanian mentioned, including that an investigation had been ordered.

Quoting officers, the Press Belief of India information company reported that at the least 30 folks fainted whereas Vijay was addressing the rally from atop his marketing campaign car and had been rushed in ambulances to space hospitals. He halted his speech mid-way when staff raised alarm after noticing that folks had been fainting and falling, it mentioned, including that as they had been eliminated to hospitals, Vijay continued his speech.

Nevertheless, he ended his speech shortly after sensing an irregular state of affairs in a piece of the massive gathering, the information company mentioned.

Hours after the accident, Vijay supplied his condolences.

"My coronary heart is shattered," he posted on X. "I'm writhing in insufferable, indescribable ache and sorrow that phrases can not categorical."

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1620x1080+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F54%2F54%2F1005eb85439090e042f83daae225%2Fap25271202340892.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1620x1080+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F54%2F54%2F1005eb85439090e042f83daae225%2Fap25271202340892.jpg" class="img" alt="Relatives of people who were killed in a stampede during a rally for a popular Indian actor and politician, mourn as they take the bodies from a hospital, in Karur, in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025." loading="lazy"/> Relations of people that had been killed in a stampede throughout a rally for a preferred Indian actor and politician, mourn as they take the our bodies from a hospital, in Karur, within the southern state of Tamil Nadu, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. Uncredited/AP cover caption

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Uncredited/AP Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned the "unlucky incident" was "deeply saddening."

My ideas are with the households who've misplaced their family members. Wishing energy to them on this tough time. Praying for a swift restoration to all these injured," he mentioned on social media.

In southern Indian states, significantly Tamil Nadu, some movie stars have bigger than life standing, rooted within the historic Tamil tradition of hero worship and picture worship. Many have change into politicians and a few have even been given divine standing.

In 2024, Vijay retired from performing and launched his personal political social gathering. It was unclear whether or not he plans to run for workplace in Tamil Nadu state.

Stampedes are comparatively widespread in India when giant crowds collect. In January, at the least 30 folks had been killed as tens of hundreds of Hindus rushed to wash in a sacred river through the Maha Kumbh pageant, the world's largest spiritual gathering.