South Indian cinema’s renowned actor Thalapathy Vijay (Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar) faced a tragic incident during a political rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district, where a stampede resulted in the death of 39 people.
SNPNEWS.IN News Update, Sep 25: South Indian cinema star Thalapathy Vijay announced on social media on February 2, 2024, that he was forming a political party and would contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections under its symbol. On October 27, 2024, Vijay officially launched his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), at a massive rally in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district. This rally marked his first major step into politics, drawing thousands of supporters. However, the event saw chaos due to an unmanageable crowd, leading to a stampede in which 6 people died.
On September 27, 2025, another tragic incident occurred during a TVK rally in Velusamipuram, attended by an estimated 50,000 people. A stampede claimed 39 lives, including 17 women, 13 men, and 9 children (4 boys and 5 girls). Over 51 people were injured and admitted to nearby hospitals.
Vijay was addressing the crowd from a temporary stage on a bus when a sudden power failure plunged the venue into darkness, causing panic and triggering the stampede. This tragedy is a significant setback for Vijay’s political journey.
● Vijay posted on X (Twitter): “My heart is broken; I am in unbearable pain. My deepest condolences to the affected families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.” Vijay and TVK have pledged to take steps to support the victims’ families.
● Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin described the incident as “deeply tragic” and announced an ex gratia payment of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased. He appointed a commission led by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan to investigate the incident and submit a report.
● Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi and other political leaders expressed their condolences, calling it a tragic incident for Tamil Nadu.