Moment of Tragedy Captured on Camera at Thalapathi Vijay’s Rally

In Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, India, a stampede at a political rally organised by actor-politician Thalapathi Vijay has so far claimed the lives of 39 people, with fears that the number may rise due to the large number of injured.

The tragic event occurred on Saturday, 27 September. According to NDTV, the moment of the disaster was captured on camera. Footage shows people falling under intense pressure and subsequently being trampled in the crowd.

A video recording captures the panic and cries of the attendees, who were desperately trying to survive. Due to the lack of air and suffocating crowd conditions, individuals climbed over others, further crushing those below. Several children were seen sitting on their parents’ shoulders as they waited near Vijay Thalapathi’s bus to catch a glimpse of him. Only minutes later, the tragedy unfolded.

https://x.com/ndtv/status/1972024058817794259

A viral video shows Thalapathi Vijay advancing with his mobile stage bus. People attempted to move closer to him, creating extreme overcrowding. Observers noted attendees struggling in the heat and push of the crowd, causing Vijay to halt his bus momentarily. During this, bottles of water were thrown towards some of the attendees.

Police reports indicate that Vijay’s seven-hour delay exacerbated the situation. The general public had been standing in the scorching sun since 11:00 AM, without food, eagerly waiting to see him. The intense heat and prolonged waiting contributed significantly to the stampede.

Authorities are continuing rescue and relief operations, attending to the injured, while investigations into safety and crowd management lapses are ongoing.

Source: NDTV