Tamil Nadu Hooch Tragedy: Death Toll Rises To 48, Mass Cremation Held In Karunapuram

As the sun set on Thursday, Karunapuram village was engulfed in grief, mourning the loss of 24 of its residents among others who died in the hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi district.

Of the 49 deaths, four women have succumbed to the illicit liquor.

Source : PTI

Tamil Nadu Hooch Tragedy: The death toll from the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy rose to 48 on Friday, with hospital sources warning that the number could increase further as 15 people remain in critical condition. Over 117 others are currently receiving treatment following the incident.

This incident marks the second significant hooch-related tragedy in the last two years in Tamil Nadu, following the one in Marakanam that claimed 22 lives and left 45 hospitalised in 2023. 

Mass Cremation In Kallakurichi's Karunapuram 

As the sun set on Thursday, Karunapuram village was engulfed in grief, mourning the loss of 24 of its residents, among the 39 total who died in the hooch tragedy.

A mass cremation was held in the evening, with bodies lined up at a common site. The ceremony was briefly interrupted by heavy rain, which villagers took as nature's expression of sympathy. Several streets in Karunapuram saw more than one funeral procession on Thursday.

On the mass cremation, K.Annamalai said, "Disheartening to see the Mass cremation of those who lost their lives to illicit liquor in Kallakurichi. Commissions & committees in the DMK govt are setup for the sake of it. People demand accountability. When will the Prohibition Minister resign, Thiru @mkstalin?"

Disheartening to see the Mass cremation of those who lost their lives to illicit liquor in Kallakurichi.

Commissions & committees in the DMK govt are setup for the sake of it. People demand accountability. When will the Prohibition Minister resign, Thiru @mkstalin? pic.twitter.com/R6yXbuXKpl

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) June 20, 2024

Hooch Tragedy: Children Orphaned

Among the victims were Vadivukarasi and her husband R. Suresh, whose tragic deaths have orphaned their three children, Kokila, Harish, and Raghavan.

Suresh had consumed arrack from a packet he purchased after an argument with family members on Tuesday night. Vadivukarasi, mistakenly believing it to be ajwain water, also drank it. Both fell ill that same night, with Vadivukarasi being one of the four women who succumbed to the illicit liquor. The orphaned siblings are now under the care of their 63-year-old grandmother.

Tamil Nadu Govt Announces Rs 10 Ex Gratia

Chief Minister Stalin has announced a Rs 10 lakh ex gratia payment to the families of the people who died after consuming the illicit arrack. Additionally, Rs 50,000 will be provided to those undergoing treatment in hospitals.

Stalin also ordered the formation of a one-man commission, headed by retired Madras High Court Judge B. Gokuldas, to investigate the causes of the Kallakurichi deaths and recommend measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

Four individuals linked to the sale of the poisonous arrack have been arrested. The Chief Minister has directed the state Home Secretary and the Director General of Police to submit a report following their inspection of the tragedy.