A devastating stampede at a political rally in Tamil Nadu, India, on Saturday resulted in the deaths of at least 36 people, including eight children and 16 women, according to the state’s Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. The incident occurred during a campaign event for actor-turned-politician Vijay, who was addressing the crowd when chaos erupted. Vijay expressed his profound grief, stating his ‘heart is shattered’ and offering condolences to the bereaved families. Reports suggest that the tragedy unfolded as a large section of the crowd surged towards the stage barricades in an attempt to get closer to the popular figure. In response, Stalin has ordered an investigation led by a retired judge and announced compensation of one million rupees ($11,000) for each victim’s family. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his sorrow, extending his thoughts to the affected families. This incident highlights the recurring issue of deadly crowd surges at Indian mass events, often attributed to inadequate safety measures and poor crowd management. Similar tragedies have occurred recently, including a stampede at the Kumbh Mela religious fair earlier this year and a deadly crush during a Hindu religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh last year.