MUMBAI:- A stampede that killed dozens at a south India political rally happened after a crowd of thousands waited hours in baking heat without sufficient safeguards, officials and witnesses said Sunday. Some 27,000 people thronged a public road in Tamil Nadu state in hopes of seeing popular actor-turned-politician Vijay on Saturday, but panic broke out and 39 were killed, authorities said. Witnesses cited hours of delays, insufficient police presence and people falling from a tree branch onto the audience as contributing to the tragedy.

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.