A POLITICAL rally has turned violent, leaving 29 people dead and many more injured.
A stampede has crushed multiple people as large crowds gathered in support of Tamil actor and politician Vijay in southern India on Saturday.
XA rally in India has turned violent, leaving 29 people dead and many more injured[/caption]
Vijay, a candidate for the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party, was stopped on a stage of an ongoing state tour.
Among the dead were at least six children and 16 women, according to the Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian.
“More than 40 people are receiving treatment,” he added.
At least 44 doctors and forensic experts from other hospitals in the region have been deployed to assist in the recovery effort following the stampede.
Vijay’s political rallies had previously drawn large crowds, however none had descended into chaos, until now.
The politician who only goes by one name has been campaigning ahead of the state elections to be held in early 2026.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the ordeal was “deeply saddening” in a public statement to social media platform X.
“The unfortunate incident during a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, is deeply saddening,” he wrote.
The state’s Chief Minister MK Stalin also spoke out on X.