At least 39 people have died, including children, in a crush at a political rally in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, officials report.
Tens of thousands of people gathered on Saturday at a campaign event for actor-turned-politician Vijay in the southern Karur district. The event was reportedly delayed by several hours, leading to chaos as many fainted in the crowded space.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin indicated that among the deceased, there were at least 17 women, 13 men, and nine children, with an additional 51 people receiving medical treatment.
Stalin promised compensation of one million rupees (approximately $11,300; £8,400) to the families of those who perished and confirmed that an inquiry would take place into the incident.
One witness recounted to Indian news agency ANI outside a hospital that his brother's two sons attended the rally. The elder one passed away, the younger one is missing. My relatives, my sister-in-law is in the ICU. What should I do? he said in despair.
Vijay expressed his heartfelt sorrow in an online statement, saying he was in 'unbearable, indescribable pain,' extending his deepest sympathies to the families of the victims.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as unfortunate and deeply saddening, reflecting on the broader issue of crowd safety at political and widely attended events. Deadly crushes have occurred frequently in India, with previous incidents at major festivals and sporting events.
Authorities are now faced with the critical task of ensuring safety measures are in place to prevent future tragedies at large public gatherings.
