Details of the Incident
In a devastating turn of events, at least 34 individuals have lost their lives and more than 100 have been hospitalized after ingesting illegally distilled alcohol in the Tamil Nadu region of southern India, as confirmed by a high-ranking official.
The Chief Minister of the state, M K Stalin, reported that the consumed liquor was contaminated with methanol, as highlighted by the Press Trust of India.
Reports indicate that over 100 people have been admitted to hospitals in the Kallakurichi district, exhibiting symptoms such as vomiting, stomach pains, and diarrhea since Wednesday. Furthermore, more than 60 individuals are still under medical care, as per a state government spokesperson.
Response and Actions Taken
In response to the tragic incident, at least 10 officials including a police chief have been suspended in the district.
Multiple visuals, including one from the ANI news agency, have depicted healthcare personnel transporting patients in ambulances and individuals gathered outside a mortuary.
A state official, M S Prasanth, cautioned that the number of critically ill individuals is fluctuating, indicating the potential for a higher death toll.
Emergency services, medical personnel, and experts from neighboring areas have been dispatched to the affected district to assist with the crisis.
An individual identified as Govindaraj, aged 49, has been apprehended by law enforcement for distributing illicit alcohol. Authorities have confiscated 200 liters of the methanol-adulterated alcoholic beverage.
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Previous Incident and Location
Last year, a similar tragedy unfolded in a neighboring district of Tamil Nadu, resulting in the loss of more than a dozen lives.
Kallakurichi, the site of this recent catastrophe, is situated approximately 150 miles (250km) away from the state capital, Chennai.