The death toll in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu rose to 54, with four more individuals losing their lives after consuming spurious liquor at Karunapuram. The victims include 48 men and six women, most of whom succumbed between Friday night and Saturday.
Thirty victims died at the Government Kallakurichi Medical College Hospital, 17 at the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital in Salem, four at the Government Villupuram Medical College Hospital, & three at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (Jipmer) in Puducherry.
Currently, 142 others, including six women and one transperson, are receiving treatment at various hospitals, including the Government Kallakurichi Medical College Hospital, government medical college hospitals in Salem, Villupuram, and Jipmer in Puducherry.
On Friday, 22 June, Tamil Nadu CM M. K. Stalin chaired a review meeting via video conferencing with District Collectors and District Superintendents of Police to discuss measures to curb illicit liquor.
Following the AIADMK’s demand for a CBI inquiry, PMK founder S. Ramadoss also called for the Tamil Nadu government to hand over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation to hold police officials accountable.
District administrations have begun a crackdown on illegal liquor activities. Police in the Central Zone, encompassing nine districts, registered 342 prohibition cases on June 19 and 20, with Thanjavur district accounting for the highest number of cases. Madurai District Collector M.S. Sangeetha led a meeting of officials to prevent illicit liquor brewing and sale.
The Mayiladuthurai district administration has provided phone numbers for the public to report the sale of spurious liquor or banned tobacco products via calls or WhatsApp messages.
