40 dead, 124 wounds after a political rush in India

The state minister in the state said on Sunday that the death toll following a stampede in a political gathering of a famous Indian actor and politician in the southern state of Tamil Nadu had risen to 40 years.

MA Subramanian told Associated Press that 36 victims have died by time they were transferred to the hospital on Saturday evening and four others died later. He said that the injury was largely stable. Supramian said that the dead included nine children.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in the Karaur area on Saturday to attend the gathering by Joseph Vigay Chandrasrakhar, popularly and professionally as Vegay, amid heat. Vijay is one of the most successful actors in Tamil Nadu, and she runs for positions in the state elections to be held in early 2026.

In the southern Indian states, especially Tamil Nadu, some movie stars have a larger situation of life, rooted in the ancient Tamil culture in the hero’s worship. Many have become successful politicians and some of them got a divine situation.

S. SAMSAN, a local resident who was in the assembly, said that Vijay is supposed to treat the assembly in the afternoon but has reached more than six hours late. He said by that time, a large crowd was strangled by the roads.

“A lot of barricades and ropes have been placed around the place” to manage the crowd, adding that the crowd has become so great that “no one can control it.”

Sapissan, a 42 -year -old businessman, said that many people “fainted while addressing the gathering. Viga stopped the speech and called an ambulance to help them.”

Rajandran, a lawyer in Karour, witnessed the gathering and a later accident, at some point, Vijay threw water bottles in the crowd from his campaign.

“When he decided to leave and his car began to move, the uproar erupted as hundreds of his fans and supporters of his car chased him,” Rajandran said. “This is what led to a stampede.”

“There was lack of discipline” in the assembly. He said that the government announced an investigation led by a former judge who would present the report in one month.

Prime Minister Tamil Nadu MK Stalin has announced more than $ 11,000 for the families of the dead.

Vijay retired from acting in 2024 and launched his political party, Tamilaga Vitry Kazag. He drew huge crowds to his general meetings.

Hours after the accident, Vijay offered his condolences.

“My heart has crashed,” posted on X.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the “unfortunate accident” was “deep sadness.”

The seals are relatively common in India when large crowds collect. In January, at least 30 people were killed when tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to shower in a holy river during the Maha Compe festival, the largest religious gathering in the world.