Overview

• By Sunday morning, media in India reported 39 deaths and nearly 60 hospitalizations, while earlier official counts cited at least 36 fatalities.
• The event was a campaign rally for Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, with reports saying attendance approached 50,000 despite permission for about 10,000.
• Witnesses described long delays, scarce drinking water, and mounting distress as people fainted; Vijay curtailed his remarks and was seen tossing water bottles to the crowd.
• Tamil Nadu set up a commission led by a former judge and announced payouts of roughly €11,000 to each bereaved family.
• Political opponents accused the organizers of criminal negligence and demanded arrests, as national leaders offered condolences and investigators examine planning and crowd control.