At least 36 people, including children, tragically lost their lives in a crush at a political rally in Tamil Nadu, India. The event was for actor-turned-politician Vijay and drew a massive crowd in the Karur district. Reports indicate the rally started late, causing the crowd to become restless. Images showed many people fainting from the heat and pressure.
State officials confirmed more than 50 others were injured. The death toll included 16 women, nine men, and six children, according to Health Minister Ma Subramanian. Chief Minister MK Stalin mentioned that additional medical assistance was sought from nearby areas as more individuals were taken to local hospitals.
Families of the deceased will receive compensation of one million rupees (about $11,300). An inquiry into the disaster is set to follow. One relative shared his heartbreak, describing his brother’s two children, one of whom had died while the other was missing.
Vijay expressed his grief in a statement, saying his heart was “broken.” He extended his condolences and prayers to those affected. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called the incident “unfortunate” in a post on social media.
Crowd crushes are not uncommon in India, with several incidents occurring this year. Notably, tragedies have taken place during events like the Kumbh Mela festival and at cricket matches.
Historically, large gatherings in India present challenges in crowd management. According to a report by the National Crime Records Bureau, crowd-related incidents account for numerous deaths each year in the country, illustrating a persistent issue that requires urgent attention.
As India continues to grow, addressing crowd safety will be critical. Improved planning and crowd management strategies could help prevent such devastating events in the future.
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