At least 36 killed at actor-politician Thalapathy's rally

A massive campaign rally by Tamil actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), ended in tragedy on Saturday, September 27, evening when a sudden crowd surge left at least 36 people dead and around 40 injured in Karur district in the western part of the state.

The death toll included at least 16 women, nine men and six children, confirmed Tamil Nadu health minister Ma Subramanian.

The incident, described as a “stampede-like crush” by the district administration, occurred at Velusamypuram on the Karur–Erode highway, where thousands had gathered for Vijay’s ‘Velicham Veliyeru’ ('Let There Be Light') campaign meeting. He was addressing the audience when chaos broke out, forcing him to halt his speech.

Eyewitnesses said the trouble began around 7.45 pm when large sections of the crowd, eager to catch a glimpse of Vijay, surged towards the stage barricades. Several people fainted in the suffocating rush.

In the melee, children were separated from their families, and many were trampled before volunteers and police could intervene. Live television footage showed Vijay pausing his speech, distributing water bottles to fainting supporters, and requesting police help.
At one point, the actor was seen calling out to locate a missing child amid the chaos.

Ambulances had difficulty navigating the jammed ground. Volunteers eventually formed human chains to carve pathways for the injured. Many were rushed to Karur District Headquarters Hospital, while others were referred to Erode and Tiruchirappalli medical colleges.

District officials at first confirmed that 10 people had died, with the toll later rising as hospitals filed their reports. At least 30 injured had fractures and respiratory distress.

Police sources said the Karur rally attracted a crowd far beyond initial estimates.

Though permissions were granted for around 30,000 participants, local reports suggested nearly 60,000 people converged on Velusamypuram from surrounding districts, many traveling on foot, tractors, and buses.
The venue had already been shifted once.

Originally planned in central Karur, it was moved after police warned of congestion and traffic risks. Velusamypuram was considered a safer, more open site, yet the sheer volume of attendees overwhelmed the space.

Several senior TVK functionaries addressed the gathering before Vijay took the stage. Leaders including Bussy Anand, former Vijay Makkal Iyakkam coordinator, and Karur district in-charge K. Ramesh spoke briefly, warming up the audience. The frenzy peaked only when Vijay appeared, with supporters pushing forward in waves to get closer.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed deepest condolences on the lives lost in the stampede during TVK chief and actor Vijay's public rally in Tamil Nadu's Karur. He wished for the speedy recovery of people injured in the incident.