Kallakurichi Hooch Tragedy: Death Toll Rises To 53, Madras HC Slams TN Govt

In the wake of the escalating death toll in Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, the Madras High Court has come down heavily on the Tamil Nadu government.

The residents of Karunapuram mourning the demise of their loved ones on Friday

The death toll from the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy rose to 53 on Wednesday after three more people succumbed to the effects of the toxic liquor. The tragedy has hit Karunapuram hardest with residents continuing to suffer from the effects of the illicit alcohol.

In the district 250 km from Chennai, the incident unfolded with initial reluctance from the then Kallakurichi Collector and Superintendent of Police to link the deaths to the hooch incident. However, the gravity of the situation became undeniable when several residents from the region were admitted to the hospitals on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, a couple of residents from the severely affected Karunapuram were hospitalised. In response, health officials were dispatched to the area to raise awareness about the dangers of consuming spurious liquor. By Wednesday, approximately 50 more people were admitted to the hospital. Tragically, some individuals succumbed to the effects of illicit arrack even before receiving medical attention.

Madras High Court Slams TN Govt

In the wake of the escalating death toll, the Madras High Court has come down heavily on the Tamil Nadu government. The court has demanded a detailed report on measures taken to curb the sale of illicit arrack in the state. A division bench, comprising Justices D Krishnakumar and K Kumaresh Babu, issued this directive while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by AIADMK legal wing secretary I S Inbadurai. The PIL called for the transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), according to a report on PTI.

The court's directive includes a requirement for the report to outline actions taken regarding the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy and to provide details of steps taken following a similar incident in Villupuram's Marakanam last year. During the hearing, the bench emphasised the importance of the matter noting that it pertains to the lives of the people. The judges demanded information on police actions to curb the sale of illicit arrack and requested data on the number of related cases filed in the past year.