Forty people died and 124 suffered injuries during a stampede at a political rally in Tamil Nadu state Saturday. Actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar drew tens of thousands to the gathering in Karur district. Health Minister Ma Subramanian confirmed nine children were among the fatalities. Medical teams treated the wounded at area hospitals.
Vijay arrived more than six hours behind schedule while crowds waited under extreme heat. Witnesses reported the massive gathering overwhelmed security barriers and crowd control measures. The stampede began when supporters chased the politician's departing vehicle. Local officials described the scene as lacking proper crowd discipline.
The state government ordered a judicial investigation into the deadly incident. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced financial compensation exceeding $11,000 for each victim's family. Vijay launched his political party after retiring from films last year. The tragedy highlights ongoing safety concerns at large public gatherings across India.
Vijay arrived more than six hours behind schedule while crowds waited under extreme heat. Witnesses reported the massive gathering overwhelmed security barriers and crowd control measures. The stampede began when supporters chased the politician's departing vehicle. Local officials described the scene as lacking proper crowd discipline.
The state government ordered a judicial investigation into the deadly incident. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced financial compensation exceeding $11,000 for each victim's family. Vijay launched his political party after retiring from films last year. The tragedy highlights ongoing safety concerns at large public gatherings across India.
