Police in India have opened a criminal case against the leaders of a party headed by the actor turned politician Vijay, after a crowd crush at one of his rallies killed 40 people and injured at least 124 others.
Local officials reported that at least nine children had died at the rally, which took place on Saturday night in the Karur district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. Vijay, one of the most popular and successful actors in Tamil cinema, who entered politics last year, was addressing the crowd for his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party before state elections early next year.
Tamil Nadu police launched the case, which is the first step toward potential charges, against three TVK party leaders, a senior official told Reuters. “TVK originally sought permission for a gathering of 10,000 people, but the actual crowd was more than double,” Tamil Nadu police officer V Selvaraj told the news agency. Vijay, whose birth name is Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar but who is widely known by the one name, was not included in the list of three people.
Indian media reports, quoting local officials, said that as Vijay spoke to the crowd, a group of his supporters and fans had fallen while trying to get close to his bus, leading to the deadly crush. Supporters had gathered at the rally amid intensely hot temperatures and Vijay arrived hours late, officials said.
The state’s head of police, G Venkataraman, said crowds had been waiting for hours under hot sun without sufficient food and water, having been informed that Vijay would arrive at the venue by noon.
“The crowds started coming in from 11am. He came at 7.40 pm. The people lacked sufficient food and water under the hot sun,” he told reporters.
He added that 10,000 people had been expected but approximately 27,000 turned up.
Tamil Nadu’s health minister, Ma Subramanian, told the Associated Press that the victims were dead by the time they were taken to hospital and that the injured were stable.
Vijay has drawn massive crowds since launching his party in February last year, after retiring from acting.
The Press Trust of India news agency, quoting officials, reported that at least 30 people fainted while Vijay was addressing the rally from the top of his campaign vehicle and were rushed in ambulances to local hospitals.
Videos on social media showed him tossing water bottles to supporters shortly before the panic broke out. He halted his speech midway when workers raised the alarm after noticing that people were fainting and falling down, the news agency said, adding that as they were taken to hospital, Vijay continued his speech.
However, he ended his speech shortly after sensing an abnormal situation in part of the huge gathering, the news agency said.
“My heart is shattered by this tragedy,” the 51-year old star wrote on social media. “I am writhing in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow that words cannot express.”
The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, said the “unfortunate incident” was “deeply saddening”.
“My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. Wishing strength to them in this difficult time. Praying for a swift recovery to all those injured,” he said on social media.
Tamil Nadu has appointed a commission led by a retired judge to investigate the causes of the crowd crush.
Such tragedies are relatively common in India, where crowd safety measures at large gatherings are poor. In January at least 30 people were killed and scores injured in crowd crushes at the Hindu Kumbh Mela festival.
Reuters, Associated Press and Agence-France Presse contribute to this report.
