Man dies after collapsing at TVK rally in Salem, investigation on

Chennai: A 37-year-old man collapsed at a rally of actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettrik Kazhagam (TVK) in Salem Friday and was declared dead after being taken to a hospital.

The incident occured two months after the actor-turned-politician resumed public events, which were suspended following the September stampede that claimed more than 40 lives in Karur.

The man, identified as Suraj, suddenly collapsed during the event. "He was rushed for medical assistance but was declared dead, reportedly due to a heart attack. Further inquiries are being conducted into the incident," a police official told a news agency. According to initial reports, the death may have been caused by crowd congestion. Authorities said an investigation was underway to determine the exact cause. No official comment came in from Vijay or the TVK as of press time Friday. Videos from the rally went viral and showed large mobs following Vijay's car on bikes. Some also showed fans blocking his car, with the police and his security struggling to control them.


Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran was quick to respond to the incident, calling it "deeply distressing".

"Even after the Karur incident that shook the entire state of Tamil Nadu, the occurrence of loss of life due to crowd congestion is condemnable," he wrote in a post on X. "Understanding that learning from past mistakes is the hallmark of good leadership, I urge my brother Vijay to fully focus on the necessary precautionary measures to prevent such repeated mishaps caused by safety lapses," Nainar Nagenthran wrote.