35 dead, over 100 hospitalised after consuming illicit liquor in Tamil Nadu

35 dead, over 100 hospitalised after consuming illicit liquor in Tamil Nadu
Kallakurichi/Chennai (Tamil Nadu): Thirty-four people belonging to Kallakurichi district have died following consumption of ‘methanol mixed arrack,’ Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Thursday.

Stalin also directed officials to notify a one-man commission to be led by retired Madras High Court Judge B Gokuldas to make recommendations to the government on measures to be taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents and also look into the reasons for the Kallakurichi deaths.

The Chief Minister said four persons linked to the sale of poisonous arrack have been arrested so far and announced Rs 10 lakh assistance to each of the families of 34 people who died after consuming illicit arrack.

Also, he announced Rs 50,000 assistance to those who are being treated in hospitals. Also, the CM said the state Home Secretary and Director-General of Police will submit a report on the hooch tragedy following inspection. Earlier on Thursday, Kallakurichi District Collector M S Prasanth said that 109 people were being treated in a number of hospitals and the status of those in a critical stage ‘keeps changing’ and it would be updated later.

State Minister (Highways) EV Velu said two women and one transgender were among the victims. Prasanth further said sufficient medical professionals, including specialists from nearby government medical colleges have been deployed in the district to handle the situation, even as more number of ambulances with life-support have been stationed.

Briefing reporters here, senior Minister EV Velu said it should not be assumed as if ‘illicit arrack sale’ has happened only under the DMK rule and such incidents have been occuring during all the regimes. “Every government (be it DMK or AIADMK governments) has taken tough action, this government has been taking stern action continuously.”

Furthermore, he told reporters: “As far as the government is concerned there is no necessity for it to encourage illicit liquor peddlers and we are taking tough action.”

“The government will not spare anyone,” he said, adding that two women and one transgender were among the victims.

“I don’t like to justify the mistake, this incident must not have happened and since this has happened the chief minister has directed tough action.”

Be it brewers of illicit arrack or those who sell it, the government has been taking stern action including under Goondas Act.

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