From Shaving Lotion To Paint Varnish, Alcohol Alternatives Prove Fatal In Tamil Nadu

Following the lockdown, at least four men have died recently in Tamil Nadu after they consumed shaving lotion and paint varnish, falsely assuming that these would give them a high and were not harmful.

PIC: AFP

Villupuram (Tamil Nadu): Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared a nation-wide lockdown for 21 days and after two weeks of this lockdown it appears that alcohol deprivation is driving more people to death in Tamil Nadu than Coronavirus. With over one crore regular drinkers in the state, 40 per cent of them addicted to alcohol, Tamil Nadu could be staring at another health crisis. Couple of days ago, a 65-year old man lost his life in Villupuram as he was deprived of consuming alcohol. According to a senior police official, the man was frantically trying to get liquor but due to the restrictions inflicted amid lockdown he failed. At first, he fainted and he was later pronounced dead by authorities at a government hospital. The elderly man, when he heard that liquor stocks were being shifted from four neighborhood outlets to a warehouse, lined up in front of the shops at Janakipuram here along with scores of other consumers. They desperately pleaded with officials to sell them any alcoholic beverage. Notwithstanding police presence and despite authorities informing customers that stocks cannot be sold because of lockdown, they stayed around the area on Tuesday as they hoped they may get the liquor. Following incidents of State-run Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) liquor stores getting burgled in regions including Coimbatore and Tiruchirappalli recently, authorities have been transferring inventories from outlets considered vulnerable to warehouses. As part of the lockdown from 6 pm on March 24 in the state, all liquor outlets are shut. Senior district police said the elderly person used to consume alcohol on a daily basis and when he couldn't get his dose because of curbs he became dispirited. Following the lockdown, at least four men have died recently in Tamil Nadu after they consumed shaving lotion and paint varnish, falsely assuming that these would give them a high and were not harmful. A 43-year old man hailing from Karur district allegedly committed suicide following frustration due to days of alcohol deprivation.