A tragic stampede occurred during actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay’s roadshow in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district on Saturday, leaving several people feared dead, including children.
According to initial media reports, at least 36 deaths have been confirmed so far. The exact number of casualties may rise as rescue and medical efforts continue.
Witnesses said Vijay’s supporters had gathered at the venue nearly seven hours in advance. When the actor arrived late, the crowd reportedly surged forward to catch a glimpse of him, leading to chaos and a deadly stampede.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed shock over the incident and conveyed condolences via a post on X (formerly Twitter). Authorities are monitoring the situation and coordinating relief measures.
Vijay, who launched his political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) earlier this year, has been conducting statewide roadshows and public meetings ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Today’s event reportedly drew a turnout of over one lakh people.
