Indus Valley Times

Tamil Nadu, Jun 20: As many as 34 people died, while more than 100 others were hospitalised after reportedly consuming illicit liquor in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district, District Collector MS Prasanth confirmed the toll to news agency ANI.

Those dead also included women, and the postmortem of most of those dead was already done.

A panel of doctors would soon submit a report on the autopsy report.

The Tamil Nadu Police arrested a man named Govindaraj, also known as Kannukutty, who was selling alcohol. The officials also seized 200 litres of liquor from him. Upon testing, the samples were found to contain methanol, according to a statement by the government.

Chief Minister MK Stalin has ordered a CB-CID probe into the incident. The DMK government transferred Kallakurichi District Collector Sravan Kumar Jatavath and suspended Superintendent of Police Samay Singh Meena.

“I was shocked and saddened to hear the news of the deaths of people who had consumed adulterated liquor in Kallakurichi. Those involved in the crime have been arrested in this matter. Action has also been taken against the officials who failed to prevent it. Immediate action will be taken if the public informs about those involved in such crimes. Such crimes that ruin the society will be suppressed with an iron fist,” Stalin wrote on X.

Several people were hospitalised after they developed health issues due to the consumption of illicit liquor, according to state minister EV Velu.

Officials said on June 18, several men, mostly daily wage labourers from Karunapuram in Kallakurichi district, allegedly consumed spurious liquor sold in packets and sachets. By night, many of them started experiencing symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach ache, and irritation in the eyes. They were then rushed to hospitals.

Those undergoing treatment are admitted to government hospitals in Kallakurichi, Salem, Villupuram, and Puducherry. The condition of many was said to be critical.

The opposition parties, meanwhile, strongly criticised the DMK government over the incident. Tamil Nadu Opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami condemned the DMK government for its failure to crack down on illicit liquor, even though many have already died due to it. Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai demanded the resignation of S Muthusamy, the Minister for Prohibition and Excise, for failing in his duty.

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi also hit out at the government by saying, “Every now and then, tragic loss of lives due to consumption of illicit liquor is reported from various parts of our state.” He added, “This reflects continuing lapses in preventing the production and consumption of illicit liquor. This is a matter of serious concern.”

-The India Today