A political rally in the Karur district of Tamil Nadu turned tragic after a stampede-like situation resulted in the deaths of at least 36 people, including eight children. The incident, which occurred at an event led by popular actor-turned-politician Vijay, also left more than 40 individuals injured.

The crowd crush took place at the 'Velicham Veliyeru' ('Let There Be Light') campaign rally held on the Karur-Erode highway in Velusamypuram. Tens of thousands of supporters had gathered to hear Vijay, the founder of the new political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), speak.

According to reports, the situation spiraled out of control when a massive surge occurred within the crowd. Some sources indicate the crush was triggered when a group of supporters fell while attempting to get closer to Vijay's campaign bus. The chaos intensified after Vijay, who had reportedly arrived late, began his address. Many attendees fainted in the crush, with some being trampled as police and volunteers struggled to manage the overwhelming numbers. Upon realizing the distress in the crowd, Vijay halted his speech.

The injured were rushed to nearby medical facilities and are reported to be in stable condition.

The tragedy has prompted immediate political fallout. The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party accused Vijay and the TVK rally organizers of gross mismanagement. DMK leaders claimed that long wait times and poor organizational planning contributed directly to the fatal incident.

In response, Tamil Nadu's chief minister M. K. Stalin expressed his deep condolences to the families of the victims. He announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of each of the deceased.

Vijay, one of southern India's most popular film stars, announced his retirement from acting in 2024 to launch his political career with the TVK. This rally was one of his first major public outreach events. The incident casts a somber shadow over his political entry and underscores the persistent dangers of crowd management at large-scale religious, cultural, and political gatherings in India.