A tragic incident has struck Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district, where as many as 34 people have died and more than 100 others have been hospitalized after consuming illicit liquor. District Collector MS Prasanth confirmed the death toll to news agency ANI. Among the deceased are women, and postmortem examinations have already been conducted for most of the victims. A panel of doctors is expected to submit a detailed report soon.
The Tamil Nadu Police arrested a man named Govindaraj, also known as Kannukutty, who was allegedly selling the contaminated alcohol. Officials seized 200 litres of liquor from him, which tested positive for methanol – a toxic substance. The state government has issued a statement regarding the presence of methanol in the seized samples.
Chief Minister MK Stalin has taken swift action by ordering a CB-CID probe into the incident. In response to the tragedy, the DMK government has transferred Kallakurichi District Collector Sravan Kumar Jatavath and suspended Superintendent of Police Samay Singh Meena.
On June 18, several men, mostly daily wage laborers from Karunapuram in Kallakurichi district, reportedly consumed spurious liquor sold in packets and sachets. By night, many began experiencing severe symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and eye irritation.
They were quickly rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. The affected individuals are currently receiving care in government hospitals across Kallakurichi, Salem, Villupuram, and Puducherry, with many in critical condition.
The incident has sparked strong criticism from opposition parties. Tamil Nadu Opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami condemned the DMK government, accusing it of failing to crack down on illicit liquor, which has already claimed many lives. Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai demanded the resignation of S Muthusamy, the Minister for Prohibition and Excise, for not fulfilling his duties effectively.
The local community is deeply affected by this tragedy, with many families mourning the loss of their loved ones. The state government is urged to take stronger measures to prevent such incidents in the future, ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens.
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