Tamil Nadu: Gloom and despair engulf Karunapuram as more succumb to illicit liquor

Kallakurichi: Gloom and despair has engulfed the hamlet of Karunapuram in the northern Tamil Nadu district of Kallakurichi where the death toll in the hooch tragedy rose to 50 on Friday, as per local police, making it among the worst such incidents to rock the state in the recent past.

The sound of the ceremonial beating of drums during a death filled the streets. One street alone was expecting three bodies to arrive on Friday evening. The previous day, residents said 10 bodies were brought back from the hospital on their street alone.

"My son was the first to show symptoms in the area after consuming the arrack," 70-year-old Malaivi told ET. "I can't see and was completely dependent on him. With the help of my neighbours, we managed to rush him to the hospital but he did not survive."

She added that while her son was among the first to pass away, his name was not in government records. While some families received government aid, she has been unable to get any help.

At the Government Medical College and Hospital here, the scene is similar. Families of those admitted to the hospital wait anxiously outside amid heavy police security all over. "We had 183 patients admitted to the hospital right after the tragedy," a doctor said on condition of anonymity. "We currently have 75 patients in the hospital of which five are critical."

A total of about 115 others are undergoing treatment across facilities like Kallakurichi Government Medical College and Hospital, and hospitals in Salem, Villupuram, Jipmer in Puducherry. Of them, 25 are said to be critical.

"This is something that we have not dealt with before," a senior police officer in Kallakurichi said. "Illicit arrack is sold and that is very common but to have illicit arrack laced with methanol is not something that has happened before. The authorities are going to investigate where this methanol came from because it is not easy to procure methanol."

Earlier in the day, three accused were sent to 15 days of judicial custody and taken to Cuddalore Central prison.

RELIEF MEASURES

Chief minister MK Stalin on Friday urged the Opposition not to seek political gain out of the hooch tragedy and promised serious measures to protect people from anti-social elements.