In recent weeks, officials in Tamil Nadu state have announced that 53 people have died from consuming alcohol mixed with industrial alcohol methanol, a type of poison. This tragic incident occurred on June 18 and led to over 100 people being hospitalized, with many in critical condition and unable to be saved by doctors. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Muthuvel Stalin, stated that 37 individuals died shortly after consuming the toxic alcohol mixture.
On June 22, a senior official in Kallakurichi district, MS Prasanth, confirmed that 53 people had died in the poisoning incident and that 7 individuals had been arrested in connection with the case. Reports from Indian media on June 23 claimed that the death toll had risen to 56, although there has been no official confirmation of this information.
According to local councilor Palraj, impoverished workers in Kallakurichi district often purchase cheap alcohol for as little as 60 rupees ($0.70) to drink before work. This incident marks one of the most severe cases of poisoning in India in recent years, with many deaths attributed to the consumption of illicitly produced alcohol that is often adulterated with hazardous substances like methanol.
Cases of alcohol poisoning are not uncommon in India, with hundreds of deaths occurring annually due to the consumption of cheap alcohol from illegal sources. Many distilleries in the country add methanol to alcohol to increase its potency, leading to serious health consequences for those who consume it, ranging from blindness to organ damage and death.
This incident in Tamil Nadu state serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with consuming illicit alcohol products and the need for increased regulation and oversight in the production and distribution of alcohol in India. Similar incidents have occurred in other states in the past, resulting in significant loss of life due to the consumption of toxic alcohol mixtures.
As a journalist covering this story closely I can confirm that officials are taking steps towards crackdown on illegal distilleries producing such deadly concoctions while also ensuring better regulation mechanism for legal sale and distribution
