KALLAKURICHI, India — A tragic incident in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has led to the deaths of at least 54 individuals after consuming homemade liquor tainted with methanol. The poisonings, which took place this week, have also resulted in dozens of hospitalizations, with nearly 200 people affected in total, according to local health officials.
Consumption of inexpensive, illicitly-produced alcohol is a common practice among sections of the population unable to afford branded products. However, the addition of methanol, a substance highly toxic to humans even in small quantities, has turned what is often seen as a cost-saving measure into a deadly risk. Symptoms of methanol poisoning, as observed in the victims, include vomiting, severe abdominal pain, and diarrhea, which can escalate to fatal complications such as liver damage and blindness.
In response to the crisis, local authorities have launched a crackdown on illegal alcohol production. MS Prasanth, a senior district official, reported that seven individuals allegedly involved in the sale and distribution of the contaminant alcohol have been apprehended. Moreover, the police have confiscated around 200 liters of the illicit brew.
The government of Tamil Nadu has been moving to address gaps in the supervision of alcohol production. In light of the tragedy, disciplinary actions have been taken against 10 officials who were responsible for oversight but failed to prevent the illegal activity.
The state’s response has extended to financial and emotional support for the victims and their families. MK Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, declared that those affected by the incident, including the families of the deceased and hospitalized, will receive government compensation. Additionally, a former High Court judge has been appointed to lead a thorough investigation into the matter and provide an independent report on the incident.
Amidst the unfolding crisis, state ministers and opposition leaders have visited Kallakurichi to express their condolences and meet with those affected. The political leaders have faced criticism for insufficient preventive measures that could have averted such mass poisonings.
As the community mourns, a mass cremation for the victims was organized, where families performed last rites side by side in a somber reflection of the collective tragedy. This incident is the latest in a series of similar tragedies in India linked to illegally manufactured alcohol. Just last year, more than a dozen people died in a comparable event in a neighboring district of Tamil Nadu, and back in 2020, over 120 lives were lost in Punjab due to toxic liquor consumption.
Such repeated incidents underscore an ongoing public health and safety challenge facing various parts of India, where illegal liquor markets often thrive due to economic disparities and inadequate regulatory oversight. The fresh tragedy has sparked renewed calls for stronger enforcement measures and public awareness campaigns to prevent further loss of life from contaminated alcohol.