The death toll in the hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi district rose to 63 with four more persons losing their lives at the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital in Salem and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry on June 26.
Also read: The persistent problem of toxic liquor in Tamil Nadu
So far, 32 persons have died at the Government Kallakurichi Medical College and Hospital; 22 at the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital in Salem; four at the Government Villupuram Medical College and Hospital; and five at JIPMER in Puducherry.
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A total of 88 persons, including three women are undergoing treatment in hospitals. As many as 74 persons, including two women and a transperson have been discharged so far.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, Kishor Makhwana, visited Karunapuram and meet those admitted in the Kallakurichi Government Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday. Mr. Makhwana also held a meeting with officials at the Collectorate.
Calls for CBI probe increase
On Tuesday, June 25, DMDK general secretary Premallatha Vijayakant demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the tragedy.
Leading a demonstration in Kallakurichi, she said the Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has not yet visited the district and met the bereaved families. Minister for Excise and Prohibition S. Muthusamy should step down, taking moral responsibility for the deaths, she said.
Governor expresses dissatisfaction
Governor R.N. Ravi on Tuesday, June 25, expressed his dissatisfaction with the “denial mode” in Tamil Nadu over the “rampant” issue of drug abuse and illicit liquor. He also wondered whether there was “connivance”, as denial cannot be without a purpose.
Mr. Ravi was speaking during the launching of a national awareness campaign on drug abuse and illicit trafficking at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai.
National Commission for Women appoints Khushbu Sundar to look into deaths
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports on the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.
In a post on social media platform X, the Commission on Tuesday said it has initiated action based on media reports stating that six women had died in Kallakurichi after consuming spurious liquor. It has constituted a three-member inquiry committee, led by NCW member and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Khusbhu Sundar.
