BREAKING: Toll in Tamil Nadu Hooch Tragedy Rises to 34, Over 70 Hospitalised; Probe Panel Formed

Chennai: The death toll in the Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy has risen to 34 after 24 more people died, said District Collector MS Prasanth on Thursday. Meanwhile, 70 others were hospitalised after reportedly consuming illicit liquor in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi district in the state on Wednesday.  

The officials have expressed concern that the death toll may go up.

Kallakurichi District Collector MS Prasanth also visited those undergoing treatment in Government Medical College Hospital in the district. 

According to the reports, the people fell ill after consuming illicit liquor 'packet arrack' in Kallakurichi. Following the incident, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has ordered a CB-CID inquiry on the issue.

Meanwhile, the reported deaths due to illicit liquor has prompted the state government to shunt out the district collector (DC) and place the superintendent of police (SP) under suspension for the alleged lapses. Taking swift action over the incident, the Tamil Nadu government has transferred District Collector Sravan Kumar Jatavath and appointed MS Prashanth as the new DC for the district. 

Kallakurichi SP, Other Police Officials Suspended

Kallakurichi SP Samay Singh Meena has been placed under suspension along with several other police officials. IPS officer Rajath Chaturvedi has taken charge as the new SP of the district. The government has also transferred the entire Prohibition Enforcement Wing (PEW) in Kallakurichi district for lapses.

An accused identified as Govindaraj has been arrested in the matter. As per the police, a majority of the victims are daily wage labourers and they are believed to have bought liquor from Govindaraj. "200 litres of spurious liquor was recovered from the accused. The lab reports have revealed that methanol was mixed with liquor," the police stated.

On the instruction of the chief minister, Public Works Department Minister EV Velu and Health Minister Ma Subramanian reached Kallakurichi to take stock of the situation.

Family members of the victims alleged that they had complained of sudden loss of vision and hearing, severe stomach pain and vomiting. The incident triggered a major uproar, following which the government rushed specialised medical teams to Kallakurichi government hospital, while critically-ill patients were rushed to hospitals in Salem, Tiruvannamalai, and Puducherry.

This tragic incident has come up a year after 22 people had died in twin hooch tragedies in Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts of Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, the Opposition AIADMK and the BJP condemned the ruling DMK government over the incident with Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami asking Stalin to take people's lives lightly.

Demanding resignation of Minister For Prohibition and Excise S Muthusamy alleging misgovernance, BJP's K Annamalai stated, "It is heart-wrenching to see parents cry out of the pain of losing their child and wife losing her husband due to the consumption of illicit liquor. DMK has not learnt its lesson. There is zero accountability in the DMK government and ministers do not fear consequences for posing (for pictures) with illicit liquor sellers." 

Shocked and Saddened: CM Stalin

Condoling the deaths, Chief Minister MK Stalin said he was in shocking after learning about he tragedy. Stalin assured that action had been taken against officials who failed to prevent it. He also asked the public to inform about those involved in such crimes. 

In a post on social medial platform X, Stalin wrote, "I was shocked and saddened to hear the news of the deaths of people who had consumed adulterated liquor in Kallakurichi. Those involved in the crime have been arrested in this matter. Action has also been taken against the officials who failed to prevent it. 

"Immediate action will be taken if the public informs about those involved in such crimes. Such crimes that ruin the society will be suppressed with an iron fist," he further wrote in Tamil.

Governor RN Ravi also expressed grief over the deaths and wished for a speedy recovery of the victims. The governor raised concern on continued reports on deaths due to consumption of spurious liquor from different parts of the state.

CM Stalin Announces Rs 10L Ex-Gratia

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each for the family of deceased and Rs 50,000 each for the people under treatment. 
State govt has also formed a commission to probe the matter. 

The one-man probe commission, comprises former judge Justice B Gokuldas. The findings of the probe panel is expected to be submitted within 3 months.