In the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, approximately 27,000 people thronged a public road on Saturday hoping to see popular actor-turned-politician Vijay, but panic broke out, resulting in the deaths of 39 people, authorities confirmed.
Tragedy Details and Government Action
- Toll Raised: State Chief Minister M.K. Stalin told reporters on Sunday that the death toll had risen to 39 from an earlier count of 36, confirming that nine children were among the dead.
- Judicial Inquiry: Stalin announced a judicial enquiry into the disaster.
- Criminal Case: Senior police official V Selvaraj told Reuters that Tamil Nadu police have registered a criminal case against leaders of Vijay’s political party, the Thamizha Vetri Kazhagam (TVK).
- Defendants: The case filing is the first step toward potential charges “against TVK party senior leaders Bussy Anand, Nirmal Kumar and VP Mathiyalagan, and the investigation is under way.”
Causes of the Panic
- Exceeded Capacity: Selvaraj noted that TVK originally sought permission for a gathering of 10,000 people, but the actual crowd was more than double that number.
- Poor Management: State police chief G. Venkataraman explained that crowds had been waiting for hours under the hot sun without sufficient food and water after the public was informed that Vijay would arrive by noon.
- Venkataraman stated: “The crowds started coming in from 11 am. He came at 7:40 pm. The people lacked sufficient food and water under the hot sun.”
- Witness Accounts: Survivors cited poor organization, insufficient police presence, and hour-long delays that left people restless.
- The Indian Express newspaper reported that panic spread after supporters who had climbed onto a tree branch fell onto the crowd below.
- Vijay’s Appearance: Vijay, known by one name, was addressing the rally in Karur district when the crowds surged suddenly, forcing him to halt his speech. Videos showed him tossing water bottles to supporters shortly before the panic erupted.
Political Context and Reaction
- Political Party: The 51-year-old star launched his own party in 2024 and has been drawing huge crowds at campaign events ahead of state elections scheduled for next year.
- Vijay’s Statement: The actor released a statement saying: “My heart is shattered at this tragedy.”
Deadly crowd incidents are a recurring issue in India during mass gatherings, often attributed to lax safety measures and poor planning.
