Police in Tamil Nadu have filed a criminal case against leaders of actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) after a rally stampede left 39 dead and more than 50 injured.
The tragedy occurred on Saturday in Karur district during a TVK campaign event. Witnesses reported chaos as thousands surged forward, far exceeding the permitted crowd limit of 10,000. Many victims were children caught in the crush.
Senior police official V. Selvaraj confirmed that three senior TVK leaders — Bussy Anand, Nirmal Kumar, and V.P. Mathiyalagan — have been named in the case. Authorities suspect poor planning and lapses in crowd control played a major role.
Vijay, one of India’s most popular film stars, expressed heartbreak over the deaths. He pledged support for victims’ families, while the Tamil Nadu government announced compensation of 1 million rupees (about $11,300) for each bereaved family.
A judicial commission led by a retired judge will investigate the causes and determine accountability. National leaders have also expressed condolences and urged stronger safeguards to prevent similar incidents.
Footage from the rally showed crowds pushing toward Vijay’s campaign vehicle. At one point, the actor himself was seen handing out water bottles to fainting supporters and calling on police for help as the situation spiraled out of control.
The disaster has intensified scrutiny of large political gatherings in India, where surging crowds and inadequate safety measures often pose risks. TVK, a rising force in Tamil Nadu politics, is seen as a challenger to both the ruling DMK and the BJP ahead of next year’s elections.
The stampede has also revived broader concerns about public safety at mass events. Earlier this month, a tech outage at Canadian airports disrupted thousands of travelers, underscoring how lapses in planning and infrastructure can quickly escalate into crises.
As investigations proceed, families of the victims continue to demand justice and accountability. For now, the focus remains on TVK leaders and whether better crowd management could have averted the tragedy.
