Maharashtra Man Dies At Vijay's TVK Rally In Salem; Body Sent For Postmortem

A 37-year-old man died after collapsing at Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay's public meeting in Salem on Thursday, casting a shadow over the high-profile rally held ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Oneindia Tamil reported.

The deceased, identified as Suraj (some reports claim Siraj), was working as a silversmith in Salem and had reportedly been waiting for several hours to catch a glimpse of Vijay. According to initial reports, he suffered a seizure during the event and fainted amid the large crowd. He was administered first aid at the venue and rushed towards a nearby hospital. However, he is said to have died on the way despite attempts to save him.

He had come to the venue with his wife and son and they hail from Sivasakthi Nagar, Seelanaickkanpatty, according to a report in The Times of India.

"During the event, Siraj lay in front of the ground for a long time, fainted and fell down," Annadhanapatty Police told the English daily. As per the report, he was rushed to a private hospital near Seelanaickkanpatty, where he was declared brought dead.

The body has been sent to he Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital for postmortem.

While reports claim that he suffered a heart attack, the cause of death is yet to be ascertained, the cop said.The incident has triggered renewed debate over crowd management at political gatherings, particularly in light of what had occurred earlier in Karur.

A Salem police confirmed, "A 37-year-old man from Maharashtra died after reportedly suffering a heart attack during a political meeting held in Salem today. The deceased has been identified as Suraj (37), a native of Maharashtra. He had been residing in the Sevvaipettai area of Salem, where he was engaged in silver-related labour work. He was married and is survived by his wife and a child."

Echoes of Karur Crowd Chaos

The Salem tragedy comes even as memories of the recent crowd-related incident in Karur remain fresh. During Vijay's campaign stop there, a massive turnout led to overcrowding, and several attendees reportedly fainted while he was addressing the gathering. The surge in numbers and inadequate crowd control arrangements had drawn criticism at the time.

In Salem too, similar concerns surfaced. Though permission was reportedly granted for around 5,000 attendees, the actual turnout far exceeded that number. People poured in not only from Salem but also from neighbouring districts. Barricades were erected using box-type enclosures to regulate entry, but there were reports of confusion and arguments at entry points as many supporters sought access. Some individuals were said to have produced colour photocopies of identity cards in an attempt to gain entry.

Supporters had begun assembling hours before Vijay's arrival, waiting in the open under intense heat. With limited shaded seating arrangements, many were forced to stand for over three hours. As temperatures soared, several people - including women - reportedly fainted during the speech.

Medical Arrangements Questioned

Two medical camps had been set up at the venue, and first aid was provided to those who collapsed. Drinking water was also arranged, but attendees and local observers claimed that the facilities were insufficient for the size of the crowd that ultimately gathered.