June 20th 2024.
At least 34 individuals have tragically passed away and many more have been hospitalized in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The cause? Illegally brewed liquor. According to the Press Trust of India news agency, the state's chief minister, M K Stalin, confirmed that those who lost their lives had consumed liquor that was contaminated with methanol.
The incident occurred in the Kallakurichi district, where over 100 people are currently receiving medical treatment in various hospitals. M S Prasanth, a top district official, stated that the number of individuals in critical condition is constantly changing, which could unfortunately mean that the death toll may continue to rise. In response, ambulances, doctors, and specialists from nearby areas have been deployed to assist in the district.
It was reported that on Wednesday, several people were admitted to hospitals after experiencing symptoms such as vomiting and stomach pain. This triggered a police investigation, with government officials taking swift action to address the situation. In a post on the social media platform X, the chief minister, Stalin, assured the public that those responsible for this heinous crime have been arrested. Additionally, he stated that action has been taken against officials who failed to prevent the incident from occurring.
He went on to say, "Such crimes that ruin our society will not be tolerated. We will use an iron fist to suppress them." Unfortunately, deaths caused by illegally brewed alcohol are not uncommon in India, where the poor are unable to afford licensed brands from government-run shops. Unscrupulous bootleggers take advantage of this and sell their dangerous concoctions to the poor at a cheap rate, without paying any taxes.
In 2022, a similar tragedy occurred in the eastern state of Bihar, where more than 30 people lost their lives due to tainted liquor being sold without authorization. And in 2020, over 120 individuals died in India's northern Punjab state after consuming tainted liquor. This illicit alcohol is often spiked with harmful chemicals, such as pesticides, to increase its potency. As a result, it has become a lucrative industry for those who are willing to break the law and exploit the vulnerable.
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