Tamil Nadu Hooch Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 37; Police Criticized for Inaction
Kallakurichi, Tamil Nadu – The grief in Kallakurichi, a town located about 240 km from Chennai, is palpable as the death toll from the recent hooch tragedy climbs to 37. Over 100 individuals have been hospitalized, with at least 14 in critical condition after consuming spurious illicit liquor.
Background and Incident Details
The tragedy unfolded late Tuesday night, with locals attributing it to rampant illicit liquor sales in the area, overlooked by local police. The majority of victims are daily-wage workers who opted for cheaper spurious liquor over the more expensive Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) sold at TASMAC outlets. The illicit liquor, sold in two huts, led to severe health complications.
Victims and Community Impact
Visuals from news channels depict women in distress, rushing to hospitals or clinging to the bodies of their loved ones. Among the first victims was Praveen, who consumed the liquor on June 18 and experienced severe symptoms shortly after. Despite being taken to a hospital, he was initially turned away and later succumbed to his symptoms. His relative, Suresh, also died after consuming the same liquor.
Perumal, another resident, shared the tragic story of his brother Ramar, who complained of blindness and eye irritation three days after consuming the illicit liquor. Perumal accused the Prohibition Enforcement Wing police of negligence, allowing the sale of hooch to continue openly.
Government and Legal Actions
Chief Minister MK Stalin has ordered a CBCID investigation and convened a review meeting with ministers. The CBCID has already formed several teams to probe the matter. Laboratory tests revealed deadly methanol in the arrack samples, prompting officials to warn that the death toll might increase.
CM Stalin has vowed to combat such crimes decisively and has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the victims’ families. The government has also taken immediate administrative actions, transferring the Kallakurichi District Collector and suspending the Superintendent of Police. Additionally, the entire district prohibition police force has been transferred.
High Court Involvement and Police Directives
The Madras High Court is set to address an urgent petition concerning the tragedy. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu’s DGP Shankar Jiwal has directed district SPs to crackdown on the sale of loose alcohol and conduct intensive prohibition raids. The directives include ensuring that leftover methanol in factories is properly accounted for and destroyed to prevent its illegal sale.
Community and Political Responses
The community is devastated, with every street in Karunapuram left with a corpse. Senior Minister A V Velu is currently in Kallakurichi to assess the situation. The AIADMK MLA from Kallakurichi had repeatedly appealed for action against illicit liquor sales, but these warnings went unheeded.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for stricter enforcement and better oversight to prevent such tragedies in the future.
