Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: Death toll rises to 59

The death toll in the hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi district rose to 59 with one more person losing his life at the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital in Salem on June 25.

So far, 32 persons have died at the Government Kallakurichi Medical College and Hospital; 20 at the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital in Salem; four at the Government Villupuram Medical College and Hospital; and three at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) in Puducherry.

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A total of 156 persons, including five women are undergoing treatment in hospitals. As many as eight persons, including two women and a transperson have been discharged so far.

A total of 223 patients were admitted to four hospitals after consuming illicit liquor. The case is being investigated by the Crime Branch CID (CB-CID), and it has been confirmed that the deaths were due to the consumption of illicit liquor mixed with methanol. Ten people have been arrested so far. 

Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: Survivors recall horror, call for abolishment of all spurious liquor sales

BJP calls out Congress

BJP chief J.P. Nadda on Monday, June 24, 2024 wrote to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge questioning the “stoic silence” of his party on the hooch tragedy, in which most of the victims were from the Scheduled Caste community. The BJP president urged Mr. Kharge to persuade Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to either pay a visit to the victims’ families or raise their voice on the issue.

Another PIL in Madras High Court

One more public interest litigation (PIL) petition has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy that has so far claimed 58 lives and left many others hospitalised.

The new PIL petition has been listed for admission before the first Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice R. Mahadevan and Justice Mohammed Shaffiq on Tuesday, June 25. PMK advocate K. Balu had filed the latest case in his capacity as president of Advocates Forum for Social Justice.