Tamil Nadu Hooch Tragedy Toll Rises To 34, CM Stalin Says Crime Will Be Dealt With 'An Iron Fist'

Tamil Nadu Hooch Tragedy: At least 34 people have died after consuming toxic alcohol, prompting a police investigation into the matter. The toll is likely to rise on Thursday.

Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy: At least 34 people have died after consuming spurious country liquor. ( Image Source :ABP Live AI )

Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy: The death toll in the Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy has risen to at least 34. The toll may rise on Thursday, as at least 10 people are in a critical state. More than 50 people were hospitalised in the Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday after they consumed spurious illicit liquor. Chief Minister MK Stalin immediately ordered a CBCID investigation into the matter.

The Opposition is likely to try to corner the MK Stalin government over the issue in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today.

After the deaths caused an alarm, the police arrested the liquor seller and confiscated 200 litres of illicit liquor. The families of the deceased said that after drinking alcohol, the victims vomited and complained of stomachache, before fainting.

As per the initial police reports, methanol was mixed in high concentrations in the illicit liquor, causing the deaths.

Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy: Families of the victims grieve the deaths.

A member of one of the victims' family said: "We used to tell them not to drink, but he did not listen to us."

Last year, at least 22 people died in the Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts after consuming spurious country liquor produced and sold illegally.

Tamil Nadu Illicit Liquor Tragedy: Kallakurichi DM Transferred, SP suspended

The government immediately sprung into action after the Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy occurred. Kallakurichi District Superintendent of Police Samay Singh Meena was suspended and Kallakurichi Collector Sravan Kumar Jatavath was transferred. While SS Meena was replaced by Rajat Chaturvedi, MS Prashant was appointed the new Kallakurichi District Collector.

The entire Kallakurichi District Prohibition Police force has been transferred by the Tamil Nadu government. Senior Minister A V Velu is in Kallakurichi to take stock of the situation.

Taking to X, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin said: "I was shocked and saddened to hear the news of the deaths of people who had consumed adulterated liquor in Kallakurichi. Those involved in the crime have been arrested in this matter. Action has also been taken against the officials who failed to prevent it. Immediate action will be taken if the public informs about those involved in such crimes. Such crimes that ruin the society will be suppressed with an iron fist."

கள்ளக்குறிச்சியில் கள்ளச்சாராயம் அருந்தியவர்கள் உயிரிழந்த செய்திகேட்டு அதிர்ச்சியும் வேதனையும் அடைந்தேன். இந்த விவகாரத்தில் குற்றத்தில் ஈடுபட்டவர்கள் கைது செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளார்கள். தடுக்கத் தவறிய அதிகாரிகள் மீதும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதுபோன்ற குற்றங்களில் ஈடுபடுபவர்கள்… pic.twitter.com/QGEYo9FWJq

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) June 19, 2024

Opposition Slams Stalin's DMK Over Tamil Nadu Hooch Tragedy

BJP leader K Annamalai slammed the MK Stalin-led DMK over the tamil nadu hooch tragedy. Sharing a video of wailing families of the victims, Annamalai said: "It is heart-wrenching to see the Parents cry out of the pain of losing their child & wife losing her husband due to the consumption of illicit liquor. DMK has not learnt their lesson after the 22 hooch deaths last year & their misgovernance has led to 5 more deaths today. There is zero accountability in the DMK Govt & Ministers do not fear consequences for posing with illicit liquor sellers."

It is heart-wrenching to see the Parents cry out of the pain of losing their child & wife losing her husband due to the consumption of illicit liquor. DMK has not learnt their lesson after the 22 hooch deaths last year & their misgovernance has led to 5 more deaths today.

There… pic.twitter.com/nPthMcKMEs

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) June 19, 2024

News agency ANI quoted him as saying at a press briefing: "Spurious liquor is common in Tamil Nadu nowadays. Due to it, some people have lost their lives yesterday in Kallakurich." He alleged that the sale of spurious liquor had risen over the last two years. Annamalai also demanded the resignation of the Tamil Nadu Excise and Prohibition Minister S Muthusamy over the Tamil Nadu illicit liquor tragedy.

(With inputs from ABP Nadu.)