At least 34 killed, over 100 hospitalised after consuming toxic liquor in India

Four people have already been arrested

At least 34 people have tragically lost their lives in Tamil Nadu, India, due to toxic illegal alcohol, with over 100 others rushed to hospitals, state officials confirmed on Thursday.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin revealed that the lethal concoction, a local arrack drink, was contaminated with deadly methanol, reported the Press Trust of India.

Stalin emphasized that four arrests have been made in connection with the deaths, condemning such criminal acts as severely damaging to society and promising strict enforcement, according to a statement from his office.

Cheaply produced alcohol from illicit distilleries claims hundreds of lives annually in India. Often, these beverages are adulterated with methanol to enhance their potency, leading to severe health consequences such as blindness, liver damage, and death.

In the Tamil Nadu incident, over 100 individuals were hospitalized, stated M.S. Prasanth, a senior government official from Kallakurichi district, as reported by Indian media.

Governor R.N. Ravi expressed deep shock over the fatalities, noting that many others remain critically ill and fighting for their lives, in a message posted on the social media platform X.

While Tamil Nadu permits alcohol consumption, underground alcohol sales offer lower prices than legal outlets, fueling a thriving black market. In various parts of India where liquor is banned, the illegal trade flourishes, providing potent but sometimes lethal moonshine.

Recent incidents include a mass poisoning in Bihar last year that claimed 27 lives and a similar tragedy in Gujarat in 2022, where 42 people lost their lives due to poisonous alcohol.