My heart overwhelmed with unbearable pain, grief: Thalapathy Vijay

Thalapathy Vijay, the popular actor-turned-politician from Tamil Nadu, expressed his deep sorrow following the tragic stampede at a political rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district, which claimed the lives of at least 39 people, including nine children and 17 women, and left over 500 others injured.

In a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter), Vijay wrote, "My heart is broken. An unbearable pain and grief have consumed me, words cannot express this sorrow. I extend my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones."

The tragedy took place on Saturday evening (September 28) when a massive crowd, initially authorized for 30,000 attendees, swelled to approximately 60,000 people at the gathering.

Amid the chaos, Vijay was giving a speech from the roof of a bus when the crowd became disordered. Several individuals fainted, prompting Vijay to throw water bottles into the crowd to help. In the ensuing scramble to grab the bottles, a stampede occurred. Vijay halted his speech to assist in the rescue efforts, but the situation quickly overwhelmed local authorities and police forces.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, announced the formation of a commission, led by retired Judge Aruna Jagadeesan, to investigate the incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences, describing the incident as "extremely heartbreaking" and offering his sympathies to the victims’ families.

This event casts a shadow over the political landscape in Tamil Nadu as Vijay was intensifying his campaign for the upcoming state elections in 2026. The state is now enveloped in mourning.