At least 36 people have been killed and more than 50 injured in a stampede at a rally for a popular actor and politician in India.

The health minister in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Ma Subramanian, told the Associated Press late on Saturday that the victims, including eight children, were dead by the time they arrived at hospital.

The injured were in a stable condition, he added.

The rally was being addressed by Tamil actor Vijay, who is campaigning for election, Tamil Nadu’s chief minister, MK Stalin, said.

Vijay, one of Tamil cinema’s most bankable actors for three decades, has drawn large crowds to his public meetings since launching his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, in 2024, which has targeted both the state ruling party DMK and prime minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party. He is campaigning ahead of state elections that are to be held in early 2026.

The 51-year-old said on X that his “heart is shattered” at the tragedy, adding: “I extend my deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of my dear brothers and sisters who lost their lives in Karur.”

Videos from local media show thousands of people surrounding a large campaign vehicle on top of which Vijay is seen standing and speaking.

During the rally, visuals showed Vijay throwing water bottles from the top of the vehicle to fainting supporters and calling for police help when the crowd became uncontrollable.

Modi said the incident was “deeply saddening”.

“My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. Wishing strength to them in this difficult time,” he said in a statement on social media.

Stampedes are relatively common in India when large crowds gather. In January, at least 30 people were killed as tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to bathe in a sacred river during the Maha Kumbh Mela festival, the world’s largest religious gathering.

In July last year, 121 people were killed in the northern Uttar Pradesh state during a Hindu religious gathering.

And 11 fans were crushed to death this June in Bengaluru during celebrations for the local team’s first Indian Premier League title.

It is also not the first time Vijay’s rallies have been the subject of safety concerns. At least six deaths were reported by media following the first meeting of his political party when it was launched in October last year.

Despite police-imposed restrictions, including limits on convoy size and venue changes, the sheer scale of public turnout has repeatedly overwhelmed local infrastructure.