A batch of toxic illegal alcohol has claimed the lives of at least 34 people in Tamil Nadu, India, with more than 100 others hospitalized, state officials reported Thursday. The deadly mix, a locally brewed arrack drink, was laced with poisonous methanol, according to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, as reported by the Press Trust of India.
Stalin announced that arrests have been made in connection with the deaths and warned that such crimes, which “ruin society,” will be suppressed with an iron fist. The consumption of cheap, illegally brewed alcohol from backstreet distilleries is a significant issue in India, causing hundreds of deaths annually.
The incident occurred in Kallakurichi district, where numerous residents fell ill after consuming the illicit liquor on Tuesday night. Top government official M.S. Prasanth noted that over 100 people have been hospitalized, many suffering from symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, and eye irritation. The state governor, R.N. Ravi, expressed his shock over the deaths and highlighted that many victims are in serious condition, battling for their lives.
Tamil Nadu, although not a dry state, sees a thriving black market for cheaper, illegal alcohol. This market often spikes liquor with methanol to increase its potency, leading to severe health consequences, including blindness, liver damage, and death. Methanol, a highly toxic form of alcohol sometimes used as an anti-freeze, is particularly dangerous even in small quantities.
The local vendor in Kallakurichi allegedly sold the toxic concoction in packets. Authorities have arrested two people and suspended a senior police official along with ten members of the state’s prohibition enforcement wing for negligence. This wing is responsible for overseeing the smuggling of illicit alcohol in the state.
Chief Minister Stalin has announced compensation of 1 million rupees ($12,000) to the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees to those hospitalized. He stated on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that those involved in the crime have been arrested and actions have been taken against the officials who failed to prevent the incident.
Despite these measures, opposition parties have criticized the government for its failure to curb the menace of toxic alcohol. K Annamalai, the state chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), argued that the deaths caused by illicit liquor in the past two years under the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) regime have set Tamil Nadu back by four decades, likening the current situation to the 1980s. He demanded the resignation of the minister responsible for overseeing the sale of alcohol.
This tragedy in Tamil Nadu is a stark reminder of the dangers of illicit alcohol and the need for stringent enforcement and regulation to prevent such incidents in the future. As the state mourns the loss of lives, there is a renewed call for effective measures to combat the production and distribution of toxic bootleg alcohol.
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