Today tragedy hit the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) public meeting in Salem when a middle-aged man died of heatstroke. It was the backdrop of the day, when mass crowds were waiting for hours in searing daylight to see actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay.
The victim 48 year-old M. Senthil, a resident of Omalur and devoted party worker fainted while the rally was in full swing. However, though there was immediate medical help by volunteers on site and some rush as they arrived at a nearby government hospital, he was declared brought dead.
Terrible Conditions: On the Venue
Temperature in Salem on Friday afternoon, the temperature hovered around 38°C but the humidity was too much with the crowds in Salem and the temperature itself was more than the crowd could do on site.
- Mass Fainting: In addition to the death, 20+ additional supporters were reportedly given treatment for dizziness, dehydration and mild respiratory distress at the medical camps the party had installed.
- Crowd Management Problems: Local officials said the guests had already made arrangements for water, but the overwhelming majority of the crowd was such a burden that volunteers struggled to reach people in the middle of the grounds.
- Back-up Scheduler: Numerous fans arrived at the venue by 9:00 AM, with some waiting more than seven hours for the TVK chief to come up to the party.
Vijay Expresses Condolences
Shortly after the incident, taking to social media, Vijay posted about his “anguish and heartbreak” that he lost a supporter. “I am really sad because of my brother Senthil’s passing. His family is in pain, and no words of comfort can console them. We want to bring change for the people, and losing a life in the process is an irreparable blow.” I urge all my cadres to maintain their health and safety above all during such public events," the chief of the TVK said in an official release. The party has said it would pay Senthil’s family a nominal sum of ₹10 lakh and said it would make sure that Senthil’s children’s education would be taken care of.
Safety Tension and Political Fallout
The event has reignited the debate in Tamil Nadu over the safety of large political rallies and has become an issue of public sensitivity following the tragic Karur stampede in September 2025. Critics have criticized the TVK leadership for lack of shade and ventilation, and the Salem district administration has requested a report detailing safety measures employed during the incident.
