Madurai: A stampede occurred at a massive public rally organized by Tamil actor and Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam party chief Vijay in Madurai, drawing an estimated 400,000 attendees including fans and party workers.
The crowd surge led to panic, resulting in around 400 people falling ill and one person confirmed dead. Injured participants were rushed to nearby hospitals, with reports indicating that 12 individuals are in critical condition. Authorities have cautioned that the casualty figures may rise as assessments continue.
Vijay, who recently announced his candidacy as the Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, has been actively campaigning across the state. The Madurai rally was part of his election campaign, aimed at mobilizing support. Vijay has expressed confidence that his party will achieve historic success in the upcoming polls.