13 dead after having spurious liquor in Tamil Nadu, supplier faced previous cases too
Opposition parties AIADMK and BJP criticise ruling DMK government for its failure to curb sale of illicit liquor.
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A person undergoes treatment after consumption of spurious liquor in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi, Wednesday. (PTI)Thirteen people lost their lives and 33 others, mostly daily-wage earners, were hospitalised after consuming hooch in Kallakurichi on Wednesday.
The victims, ranging from 30 to 65 years of age, had purchased the lethal brew from a local vendor in Karunapuram, within the Kallakurichi town limits. Consumed on Tuesday night, the spurious liquor began to take its toll as victims were at their homes. Symptoms included severe dizziness, headache, nausea, stomach pain, and eye irritation. Many were rushed to the Kallakurichi Government Medical College and Hospital, with several transferred to advanced care facilities like Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry.
District Collector Sravan Kumar Jatavath initially said that the cause of death was yet to be confirmed, pending forensic analysis of blood samples. However, preliminary investigations pointed towards methanol poisoning. “We will be able to ascertain the cause of death only after receiving the test results from the forensic laboratories in Villupuram and JIPMER,” he said.
A press release from the state government confirmed that methanol was found in the liquor, and the police arrested Govindaraj alias Kannukutty, the supplier of the spurious liquor, who has previous cases against him.
Among the 33 admitted, he said, the condition of three remains critical.
In response to the increasing number of deaths, the state government took swift action. The District Collector Sravan Kumar Jatavath was transferred, and SP Samay Singh Meena was suspended.
Chief Minister M K Stalin ordered the transfer of the investigation to the Crime Branch-CID (CB-CID) and sent Highways Minister E V Velu and Health Minister Ma Subramanian to Kallakurichi to oversee the treatment of the affected individuals.
Opposition parties, including the AIADMK and BJP, were quick to criticise the ruling DMK government for its failure to curb the sale of illicit liquor. Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami said he has been reminded that illicit liquor was rampant during DMK’s rule. “I strongly condemn the DMK government for not taking any action to eliminate illicit liquor even after so many lives have already been lost due to it,” he said.
BJP state chief K Annamalai demanded the resignation of Minister for Prohibition and Excise Thangam Thennarasu, accusing the government of negligence and lack of accountability.
The government has deployed additional medical teams and resources to Kallakurichi. A four-member medical team was sent to assist local doctors, and 12 ambulances were kept on standby for emergencies. Blood samples of all affected individuals have been sent for detailed examination to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Villupuram.
The incident marks the second significant tragedy since the DMK came to power due to the illicit liquor — 22 deaths were reported in Villupuram and Chengalpet districts in May 2023.
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