Stampede at Vijay’s Karur rally: Death toll rises to 38

The toll from the stampede at actor Vijay’s public rally in Karur has risen to 38, Tamil Nadu DGP G Venkataraman said on Sunday.

The crowd swelled due to the delayed arrival of the actor-politician to the venue and they lacked sufficient food and water during the waiting hours under the hot sun, he told reporters here.

“An unfortunate incident happened; a regrettable one. As per latest information, 38 have persons have died. They are 12 men, 16 women and 10 children,” he said in an early morning briefing.

He further said there was a crowd surge after the official Twitter handle of Vijay’s TVK party mentioned that he would arrive at the meeting venue by 12 noon.