2024 Tamil Nadu alcohol poisoning explained

2024 Tamil Nadu alcohol poisoning
Location:Kallakurichi district, Tamil Nadu, India
Type:Mass poisoning
Cause:Methanol poisoning from hooch
Reported Deaths:65
Reported Injuries:~200
Arrests:3

The 2024 Tamil Nadu alcohol poisoning took place in Kallakurichi district in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu on 20 June 2024. Consumption of illegally made liquor resulted in at least 65 deaths and more than 200 injuries.

Background

Illegal home-brewed liquor is consumed in various parts of India due to its cheaper price compared to the commercially available brands. These illicit liquors frequently have additional chemicals added to them such as pesticides or methanol, in order to increase potency.[1] There had been sporadic incidents of poisoning involving illegal liquor in India in the preceding years. In 2020, at least 120 people had died from consuming illicit liquor in Punjab and in 2022, 30 people died in Bihar and 28 died in Gujarat from similar incidents.[2]

Incident

On 20 June 2024, an incident of poisoning due to the consumption of illicit liquor occurred in Kallakurichi district in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.[3] [4] [5] It resulted in vomiting, stomach aches and diarrhoea due to the presence of methanol in the liquor.[6] At least 58 people died from consumption of tainted liquor and more than 200 people were admitted to hospitals.[7] The injured were treated at various government hospitals in the state and JIPMER in Puducherry.[8] As of 21 June, 28 people were reported to be in critical condition.[9] Most of those who died were economically and socially backward Dalits from Kallakurichi, and nearby villages.

Aftermath

Chief minister of Tamil Nadu M. K. Stalin announced an ex gratia of for the family of the deceased and for the injured.[10] The Government of Tamil Nadu issued orders for the transfer of then District Collector of Kallakurichi and the appointment of a new collector. It also ordered the suspension of the Superintendent of Police and ten members of the state police's prohibition enforcement wing for negligence.[11] [12]

Investigation

On 21 June 2024, the government appointed a one-man commission headed by former Madras High Court judge B. Gokuldas to investigate the incident.[13] [14] On the same day, three people were arrested in connection with the case and were incarcerated at Cuddalore Central Prison.[15]

Reaction

Governor of Tamil Nadu R. N. Ravi expressed shock over the incident and offered his condolences.[16] Leader of opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami, Bharatiya Janata Party state president K. Annamalai and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam president Vijay criticised the government for the tragedy and demanded the resignation of the ministers concerned.[17] [18] [19] [20] The opposition also demanded a CBI-led inquiry of the incident.[21]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Tainted liquor kills more than 30 people in India in the country's latest bootleg alcohol tragedy. 20 June 2024. 21 June 2024. Arshad R.. Zargar. CBS News. 20 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240620141954/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/india-tainted-liquor-bootleg-alcohol-deaths-tamil-nadu-kallakurichi/. live.
  2. News: Illegally brewed liquor kills at least 34 with dozens hospitalized in southern India . 20 June 2024. 21 June 2024. Associated Press. 20 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240620053612/https://apnews.com/article/india-tamil-nadu-illicit-liquor-deaths-1ec967d5d76653e71475ca15ac936eed. live.
  3. News: Tainted, Illicit Liquor Kills Dozens in India. Time. 20 June 2024. 21 June 2024.
  4. News: Kallakurichi hooch tragedy Highlights: Death toll rises to 38, CB-CID begins probe. The Hindu. 21 June 2024. 21 June 2024. 20 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240620122906/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/kallakurichi-hooch-tragedy-live-updates-june-20/article68311093.ece. live.
  5. News: Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: Victims leave behind shattered families, broken dreams. The Hindu. 21 June 2024. 21 June 2024. S.. Prasad. 20 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240620124115/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/kallakurichi-hooch-tragedy-victims-leave-behind-shattered-families/article68311522.ece. live.
  6. News: Death toll rises to 54 in India liquor tragedy. Reuters. 22 June 2024. 22 June 2024.
  7. News: Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: Death toll rises to 58. The Hindu. 24 June 2024. 24 June 2024.
  8. News: Toll in Kallakurichi hooch tragedy rises to 34, around 100 in hospitals, 5 critical. The Indian Express. 21 June 2024. 21 June 2024. Arun. Janardhanan. 20 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240620102825/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/tamil-nadu-kallakurichi-hooch-tragedy-deaths-9403614/. live.
  9. News: Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: Death toll climbs to 47, over 100 others undergoing treatment. 21 June 2024. 21 June 2024. The Hindu.
  10. News: Tamil Nadu Hooch Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 34, CM M.K. Stalin Announces Rs 10 Lakh Compensation. Lokmat Times. 21 June 2024. 21 June 2024. Indo-Asian News Service.
  11. News: Mollan. Cherylann. Tamil Nadu: At least 34 dead after drinking toxic alcohol. BBC. 20 June 2024. 21 June 2024.
  12. News: Rajasekaran. Ilangovan. Kallakurichi Methanol Hooch Tragedy: Exposing the Deadly Nexus of Bootleggers and Lax Enforcement . Frontline. 20 June 2024. 1 June 2024.
  13. News: Kallakurichi deaths: Justice Gokuldas Commission to submit report in three months. 21 June 2024. 21 June 2024. The News Minute. 20 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240620081823/https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/kallakurichi-deaths-justice-gokuldas-commission-to-submit-report-in-three-months. live.
  14. News: Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy: Death toll rises to 38; Stalin orders judicial probe. 21 June 2024. 21 June 2024. The Times of India.
  15. News: Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy: Prime accused arrested; death toll rises to 50. Onmanorama. 21 June 2024. 21 June 2024.
  16. News: T.N. Governor R.N. Ravi condoles death of Kallakurichi hooch tragedy victims. The Hindu. 20 June 2024. 21 June 2024. 21 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240621132006/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-governor-rn-ravi-condoles-death-of-kallakurichi-hooch-tragedy-victims/article68309221.ece. live.
  17. News: Tamil Nadu Hooch tragedy: Death toll rises to 29, AIADMK demands CM Stalin’s resignation. The Financial Express. 21 June 2024. 21 June 2024. 20 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240620091027/https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-hooch-tragedy-death-toll-rises-to-29-aiadmk-demands-cm-stalins-resignation/3529560/. live.
  18. News: Tamil Nadu Hooch Tragedy: Annamalai Announces State-wide Protest on June 22. Deccan Chronicle. Deccan Chronicle. 20 June 2024. 21 June 2024. 21 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240621132123/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/southern-states/tamil-nadu/tamil-nadu-hooch-tragedy-annamalai-announces-state-wide-protest-on-june-22-899954. live.
  19. News: Tamil Nadu’s illicit liquor case: BJP announces State-wide protest against ruling DMK government on June 22. The Hindu. 20 June 2024. 21 June 2024. 20 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240620085231/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/kallakurichi-hooch-tragedy-bjp-announces-state-wide-protest-against-ruling-dmk-government-on-june-22/article68310980.ece. live.
  20. News: 'Shocking and heartbreaking': Actor Vijay mourns loss of 34 lives in Kallakurichi hooch incident. Asianet News. 20 June 2024. 21 June 2024. 20 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240620090158/https://newsable.asianetnews.com/entertainment/shocking-and-heartbreaking-actor-vijay-mourns-loss-of-34-lives-in-kallakurichi-hooch-incident-ajr-sfdb0w. live.
  21. News: Kallakurichi Hooch Tragedy: Death toll rises to 47; demand for CBI enquiry, ruckus in Tamil Nadu Assembly - 10 Key points. Livemint. 21 June 2024. 21 June 2024.

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