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E-mail Xinhua, June 21, 2024
by Pankaj Yadav
NEW DELHI, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Chief Minister, or head of the government, of India's southern state of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin on Friday promised to take a strict action against those found involved in this week's hooch tragedy, which has so far claimed nearly 50 human lives, including a few women.
The chief minister also said methanol, which was used in making the spurious liquor, was procured from the neighboring state of Puducherry, and that four persons had already been arrested in this regard.
More than 100 people were admitted to three different government hospitals, battling for their lives.
The tragedy had struck Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi district on Wednesday morning, after the locals, mostly laborers from low-income families, consumed spurious liquor on Tuesday night. The initial death toll reported on Wednesday morning was 12, which gradually rose to nearly 50 over the past three days.
A pal of gloom descended in Karunapuram area of Kallakurichi district even as mass cremations of the deceased were performed there by grieving family members on Thursday and Friday.
This was described as one of the biggest hooch tragedies in south India in recent history. Hooch tragedies are quite common in many Indian states, even as low-income people prefer consuming cheap liquor made locally and illegally.
"For years together spurious liquor was sold in Kallakurichi and nearby areas in a secret manner by bootleggers who have a perfect nexus with the local police. The bootleggers give 'protection money' regularly to the local police for carrying on their illegal activity," said a social activist in Kallakurichi, N.B. Veerasami, while speaking to Xinhua over phone.
Speaking in the state's Legislative Assembly on Friday, Chief Minister Stalin said actions are being taken against the offenders. He was replying to a Calling Attention Motion moved by lawmakers belonging to Opposition political parties.
The chief minister also announced additional relief assistance to the children who lost both or one of their parents in the tragedy. Enditem
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