A government official announced today, Friday, that the latest incident of tainted and adulterated alcoholic beverages in Tamil Nadu, southern India, has claimed 47 lives, with more than a hundred still receiving treatment in hospitals. Since Wednesday, over 150 individuals suffering from vomiting, stomach pains, and diarrhea required hospitalization after consuming alcohol mixed with methanol, produced in the Kalakurichi area, about 250 kilometers from Chennai, the state capital.
The official added that 118 individuals are still being treated in hospitals in the region and surrounding areas as of Friday morning. The state government reported on Thursday that the police arrested four individuals on charges of selling adulterated liquor and seized 200 liters of it. Additionally, it stated that disciplinary action has been taken against ten officials for failing to prevent this issue.
Deaths resulting from the consumption of illegally produced alcoholic beverages are a recurring problem in India, where many cannot afford to buy alcohol from reputable brands. Citizens and activists have called for strict actions against vendors of adulterated products. The state government has indicated that it is taking measures to identify those involved in the production of methanol, a toxic chemical usually used for industrial purposes.
More than ten people died last year in a similar incident that occurred in a nearby area of Tamil Nadu.
