Death toll in stampede at Vijay's Tamil Nadu rally hits 36

A devastating stampede at a political rally organized by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor-politician Vijay in Karur district has claimed the lives of 36 people, including eight children and 16 women, with 46 others injured, according to official reports. The incident has triggered a state-wide outcry over crowd management failures and raised urgent questions about political accountability and public safety protocols. The tragedy unfolded during the “Velicham Veliyeru” (‘Let There Be Light’) event in Velusamypuram, Karur, where an estimated 30,000 supporters had gathered to hear Vijay speak. Eyewitnesses and police sources confirmed that the situation deteriorated rapidly around 7:45 p.m., when surging crowds overwhelmed barricades, leading to mass panic, trampling, and suffocation—particularly among women and children who had...