A tragic incident has occurred in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where at least 34 people have lost their lives after consuming toxic smuggled alcohol. The event took place in Kallakuruchi district where scores of residents fell ill after consuming liquor on Tuesday night. About 80 people are currently being treated in hospitals for symptoms such as excessive diarrhoea. Officials have warned that the death toll could continue to rise.
In response to the incident, two people have been arrested and a wider investigation has been launched. A senior police official and ten members of the state's prohibition enforcement wing, responsible for monitoring illicit liquor smuggling in the state, have been suspended for negligence.
Pirate alcohol, often produced in street distilleries, is a recurring problem in India, causing dozens of deaths each year. Smugglers frequently add methanol, a highly toxic form of alcohol that is sometimes used as antifreeze, to their mixtures to increase potency. Even small amounts of methanol can cause blindness, liver damage, and death. In that case, the accused allegedly sold the lethal mixture in packets through a local vendor.
Victims who consumed alcohol reported symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain and eye irritation. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced compensation of 1 million rupees ($12,000; £9,425) for the families of the dead and 50,000 rupees each for those hospitalized. He assured that those involved in the crime have been arrested and action has been taken against the officials who could not prevent it.
However, opposition parties have criticized the government for not curbing the distribution of toxic alcohol in the state. K Annamalai, the state chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has demanded the resignation of the minister responsible for overseeing the sale of alcohol, citing deaths caused by illicit liquor as a step backwards for Tamil Nadu.
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