Police in India are investigating after 40 people died in a stampede at a political rally that officials said was much larger than expected.

The tragedy happened in Tamil Nadu as actor-turned-politician Vijay was campaigning for his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party ahead of state elections early next year.

Detectives have filed a case "against TVK party senior leaders Bussy Anand, Nirmal Kumar and VP Mathiyalagan, and the investigation is under way", senior police official V Selvaraj said.

"TVK originally sought permission for a gathering of 10,000 people, but the actual crowd was more than double," he added.

Image: The aftermath of the crowd stampede in Karur, Tamil Nadu state. Pic: AP

Ma Subramanian, Tamil Nadu's health minister, who said "there was indiscipline" at the rally,

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