CHENNAI: Death toll in Kallakurichi liquor tragedy rises to 61

Chennai: The death toll in the spurious liquor tragedy in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district rose to 61 on Wednesday. Yesudas (35), admitted to JIPMER in Puducherry, died. Several people died in Karunapuram in Kallakurichi after consuming ‘pepper arrack’ mixed with methanol on June 19. Others who complained of stomach pain and burning sensation in the eyes were rushed to hospitals in Puducherry, Kallakurichi, Villupuram and Salem. The death toll is steadily rising after several people died while undergoing treatment at hospitals. Several dozen people are still under treatment.

So far, around 20 people have been arrested in connection with the incident, including seven who are believed to be the owners of a chemical plant located in Chennai’s Madhavaram, which supplied the methanol. Hours after the tragedy, three people selling spurious liquor were detained in Karunapuram. 200 litres of spurious liquor, which contained high levels of methanol, was also seized. Besides, the district collector was transferred and the ADGP (Prohibition) was put on compulsory wait, while the Superintendent of Police and other officials were suspended. The Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) of Tamil Nadu Police, led by SP Shantaram, has begun an in-depth investigation into the tragedy. Chief Minister MK Stalin had announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to each victim’s family and set up a one-member commission led by a retired High Court judge to investigate the causes and prevent future liquor tragedies in the state. The Chief Minister had also announced Rs 50,000 to each person undergoing treatment from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund.