At least 36 died and dozens more were hospitalized after drinking illegally brewed toxic alcohol in India
At least 36 people have died and more than 60 are receiving treatment in hospitals after consuming tainted liquor in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, a government spokesperson confirmed on Thursday.
Since Wednesday, over 100 people have sought hospital care for symptoms including vomiting, stomach aches, and diarrhea in Kallakurichi district, located 150 miles from the state capital Chennai.
The state government has taken disciplinary action against at least 10 officials, including the district's chief administrator and police chief. "I was shocked and saddened to hear the news ... Action has also been taken against the officials who failed to prevent it," Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said in a post on X.
Police have arrested four individuals for selling the illicit liquor and seized 200 liters of the methanol-mixed alcoholic drink. Methanol is a toxic chemical typically used for industrial purposes.
Deaths from illegally produced alcohol, known locally as "hooch" or "country liquor," are a recurring issue in India, where many people cannot afford branded spirits. The Tamil Nadu government is taking steps to identify those involved in the production of methanol.
Footage from the incident shows healthcare officials transporting patients into ambulances and hospitals, and people gathering outside a mortuary in Kallakurichi. Last year, a similar incident in a nearby district claimed more than a dozen lives.
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