The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin, said that he was ‘shocked’ by the deaths and added that necessary actions were taken against those who failed to prevent the tragedy from happening.
At least 29 people were killed and more than 60 admitted to hospitals on Wednesday after consuming spurious liquor in the Kallakurichi district in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, officials said on Thursday. They added that the death toll is expected to rise.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed that he was ‘shocked’ at the incident and added that he had taken appropriate action against the officials who failed to stop the incident from occurring.
கள்ளக்குறிச்சியில் கள்ளச்சாராயம் அருந்தியவர்கள் உயிரிழந்த செய்திகேட்டு அதிர்ச்சியும் வேதனையும் அடைந்தேன். இந்த விவகாரத்தில் குற்றத்தில் ஈடுபட்டவர்கள் கைது செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளார்கள். தடுக்கத் தவறிய அதிகாரிகள் மீதும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.
இதுபோன்ற குற்றங்களில் ஈடுபடுபவர்கள்… pic.twitter.com/QGEYo9FWJq
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) June 19, 2024
In a post on X, MK Stalin said, “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 is informed about those involved in such crimes. Such crimes that ruin society will be suppressed
#TamilNadu: 26 people have died and more than 60 are undergoing treatment at various hospitals following a hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi. Most of the affected people who consumed the illicit liquor complained of giddiness, stomach pain, and irritation in the eyes.#hoochtragedy…
— Atulkrishan (@iAtulKrishan1) June 20, 2024
K Kannukutti, 49, was arrested and nearly 200 liters of illicit liquor, containing methanol, were recovered from him, informed the Tamilnadu government.
Stalin has called for a Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department (CB-CID) probe for a comprehensive study. The TN government has suspended Kallakurichi district collector Sravan Kumar Jatavath and suspended superintendent of police Samay Singh Meena as per the statement. Besides, nine other cops including prohibition wing Kallakurichi have also been suspended, it said.
Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: Death toll rises to 29, over a hundred hospitalised in Tamil Nadu.
As Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin comes under severe fire, 9 policemen including those from prohibition wing of Kallakurichi have been suspended.https://t.co/g3ptiDwuA3
— Anusha Ravi Sood (@anusharavi10) June 20, 2024
It may be recalled that the new collector of the Kallakurichi district, MS Prasanth, had recently paid a visit to the patients undergoing treatment in the Government Medical College Hospital. Rajath Chaturvedi is the district’s new police superintendent.
To assist the affected families, senior ministers EV Velu and Ma Subramanian were dispatched by Stalin to Kallakurichi.
DMK has to answer how illegal hooch is being manufactured.
Tamil Nadu: Death toll in Kallakurichi hooch tragedy rises to 29; AIADMK demands CM Stalin’s resignation https://t.co/HJ3By8AH5B— 𝔐𝔬𝔥𝔞𝔫 ℜ𝔞𝔬 🇮🇳🇺🇸 (@mohhchow19) June 20, 2024
Around 15 individuals were taken to the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry.
Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi also condoled the loss of lives and prayed for the recovery of the injured persons.
#AGNINEWSSERVICES#Tamilnadu
34 including 2 women dead in hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi , 90 people admitted in hospital for treatment.— Suresh Kumar (@journsuresh) June 20, 2024
“I was very shocked to learn that many lives were lost in Kallakurichi due to consumption of counterfeit liquor,” said Raj Bhavan of Tamil Nadu in a post. In critical condition, many others are struggling for their life. I send my sincere sympathies to the relatives of the deceased and wish the hospitalized patients a quick recovery.
News concerning deaths from drinking phony alcohol occasionally surfaced from various sections of our state. They demonstrate ongoing inadequacies in reducing the production and use of illicit alcohol. It said, “This is a big worry.
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