At least 31 people have died and over 60 are still receiving hospital treatment after consuming tainted liquor in Tamil Nadu, a southern Indian state, according to a government spokesperson on Thursday.
Since Wednesday, more than 100 individuals have been admitted to hospitals in the Kallakurichi district, which is 250 km (150 miles) from Chennai, the state capital. These individuals were experiencing symptoms such as vomiting, stomach ache, and diarrhea, the spokesperson reported.
In response to the illicit liquor incident, the state government has suspended at least 10 officials, including the district’s collector and police chief, as stated in an official release.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed his shock and sorrow over the incident in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. He mentioned that action has been taken against the officials who failed to prevent the tragedy.
Police have arrested a man named Govindaraj, 49, who was responsible for selling the illicit liquor. Authorities also seized 200 liters of the methanol-mixed alcoholic drink, according to the government statement.
A video from ANI, in which Reuters holds a minority stake, showed healthcare officials transporting patients in ambulances to a hospital and several people gathered outside a mortuary in Kallakurichi.
This incident follows a similar tragedy last year in a nearby district in Tamil Nadu, where more than a dozen people died from consuming contaminated liquor.
