Tamil Nadu spurious liquor tragedy
The death toll in the Tamil Nadu spurious liquor tragedy has increased to 19 after two more people died on Tuesday. Saravanan, aged 58, from Marakkanam in Villupuram district, and Rajavel, aged 49, who was admitted to the Government Medical College hospital in Villupuram, both passed away after consuming the hooch.
Relatives and friends of the victims blocked the Puducherry-Tindivanam road to demand a ban on the sale of spurious liquor in the state. Fourteen people have died in Villupuram district’s Marakkanam area, while five have died in Maduranthakam in Chengalpattu district.
The tragedy occurred on Saturday when 50 people consumed locally brewed liquor during a marriage function in Ekkiyarakuppam fishing hamlet in Marakkanam. Several of them suffered from nausea and vomiting and were rushed to hospitals, with three dying shortly after. Many more people succumbed to the toxic effects of the liquor on Sunday.
On Monday, six more individuals who had been admitted to various hospitals in Marakkanam, Villupuram district, died after consuming spurious liquor, bringing the death toll in that area to 14.
Two more individuals died on Tuesday. In Maruthanthakam, Chengalpattu, five people also died after consuming spurious liquor. Police are investigating whether there is a connection between the two incidents, as the two places are only 50 km apart.
Four individuals have been arrested in connection with the Marakkanam tragedy, while two have been arrested for supplying spurious liquor in Maruthanthakam. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 10 lakh for each family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those who were admitted to hospitals.
