A batch of toxic illegal alcohol has claimed the lives of at least 34 people in Tamil Nadu, India, with over 100 others hospitalized, state officials reported Thursday.
The deadly mix, identified as a locally brewed arrack drink, was found to be laced with poisonous methanol, according to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. The Press Trust of India news agency reported that Stalin announced arrests related to the incident and vowed to crack down on such crimes, stating they “ruin society and will be suppressed with an iron fist.”
Hundreds of people die annually in India from consuming cheap alcohol produced in unregulated distilleries. Methanol is often added to increase the liquor’s potency, leading to severe health consequences such as blindness, liver damage, and death.
In the current Tamil Nadu case, more than 100 people have been hospitalized, according to M.S. Prasanth, a top government official in the state’s Kallakurichi district.
State Governor R.N. Ravi expressed his deep shock over the deaths and highlighted that “many more victims are in serious condition battling for their lives,” in a post on social media platform X.
Tamil Nadu, unlike some Indian states, does not prohibit alcohol sales, but black market liquor remains popular due to its lower price compared to legally sold alcohol. The illegal alcohol trade persists in other parts of India where liquor is banned, often leading to similar tragic incidents.
In recent years, similar tragedies have occurred across India. Last year, at least 27 people died from consuming poisonous alcohol in Bihar, and in 2022, at least 42 fatalities were reported in Gujarat from similar causes.
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