Tragedy at Vijay's Karur Rally: 38 Dead in Stampede as Actor Distributes Water to Overcrowded Fans

Vijay, due to arrive in Karur around noon, experienced a delay of at least six hours.

Videos captured actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President Vijay interrupting his speech in Tamil Nadu's Karur to distribute water bottles to the crowd as people began suffering from heat and overcrowding.

A tragic stampede at the rally claimed the lives of 38 individuals, including eight children, while 46 others sustained injuries. Nearly 30,000 supporters and fans had gathered, hoping to see the actor-politician.

Footage shows densely packed crowds surrounding Vijay's custom-built campaign bus, attentively listening to his words. As movement ripples through the crowd, Vijay pauses his speech, points out two ambulances trying to navigate through, and begins tossing water bottles to the crowd.

The video shows Vijay and others on the bus distributing several bottles of water to those below. Noticing someone in distress, the actor calls out, "Coming, coming, coming... ambulance".

Officials reported that Vijay's scheduled noon arrival in Karur on Saturday was delayed until after 6 pm. This delay resulted in a continuously growing crowd, leaving almost no space on the road when his bus finally arrived.

The DMK criticized the TVK chief for this delay, alleging it was a deliberate strategy to showcase his popularity through large crowd visuals. As the Assembly elections approach next year, the actor-politician is positioning himself as an alternative to the longstanding DMK and AIADMK coalitions that have dominated Tamil Nadu politics for decades.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin issued a statement expressing condolences, confirming that the casualties included eight children and 16 women.

The Chief Minister announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for each bereaved family and established a one-member commission of inquiry headed by retired High Court Justice Aruna Jagadeesan to investigate the incident.

"The loss of these precious lives has shaken the hearts of us all. I express my deepest condolences and sympathies to the families who have suffered this irreparable loss. I have directed that the best medical treatment be provided to all those admitted to hospitals. I will be travelling to Karur tonight to meet the families of the deceased, offer my condolences, and visit those receiving treatment in hospitals," he stated.