India: A stampede at a rally for a popular actor and politician in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu killed at least 36 people and injured 40 others, the state’s health minister said on Saturday (Sunday AEST).

The minister, Ma Subramanian, said the victims were dead by the time they were taken to a hospital. He said the injured were stable.

The dead included eight children, Subramanian said.

Large crowds had gathered in Karur for the event, part of Vijay’s ongoing state tour for his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, the report said.