NEW DELHI: A stampede at a rally for a popular Indian actor and politician in the southern state of Tamil Nadu killed at least 36 people and injured 40 others, the state’s health minister said late Saturday. Ma Subramanian told The Associated Press that the victims were dead by the time they were taken to a hospital and that the injured were stable. The dead included eight children, Subramanian said. The rally, which officials say was attended by tens of thousands of people, was being addressed by Vijay, one of Tamil Nadu’s most successful actors-turned-politician in the district of Karur.

Tens of thousands had gathered at a campaign event for actor-turned-politician Vijay in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu.

Vijay, a well-known actor who goes by only one name, launched a political party last year.

Indian actor and politician Vijay had been campaigning for elections when the stampede occurred