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Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: Death toll climbs to 48, 135 others undergoing treatment
Most of the victims who succumbed on the night of June 19 are from Karunapuram; a 71-member team of specialist doctors and staff has been sent to Kallakurichi to help treat the patients
The death toll in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy rose to 48 with nine more people losing their lives after consuming the spurious liquor at Karunapuram in Kallakurichi. The victims included four women and a transperson.
Most of the victims who succumbed on Thursday night are from Karunapuram. Among the deceased, 25 persons died at Government Kallakurichi Medical College Hospital, 16 at Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital in Salem, four at Government Villupuram Medical College Hospital and three at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) in Puducherry.
Editorial | Killer moonshine: On the hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi
A total of 135 others including six women are undergoing treatment at the Government Kallakurichi Medical College Hospital, and government medical hospitals in Salem, Villupuram, and Jipmer in Puducherry.
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Official sources said a 71-member team of specialist doctors from General Medicine, Anaesthesia, Nephrology and staff nurses and technicians drawn from government medical colleges and hospitals in Salem, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchi and Chengalapttu have been sent to the Kallakurichi hospital.
Crime Branch-CID takes over probe
The Crime Branch-CID has taken over the probe into the hooch tragedy deaths in Karunapuram in Kallakurichi town.
Police sources said documents and case diary files were handed over by the Kallakurichi town police to the CB-CID team.
The team, led by Additional Deputy Superintendent of Police Gomathi visited Karunapuram, the epicentre of the hooch tragedy an began their investigation.
Calls for prohibition, monitoring of methanol supply
PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss is expected to meet those admitted at the Government Kallakurichi Medical College Hospital on Friday.
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) founder Thol. Thirumavalavan on Thursday, June 20, contended that implementing liquor prohibition in the State would be a permanent solution to the illicit liquor problem.
In a statement, he also said the State government should vigorously monitor supply of methanol.
Kallakurichi hooch tragedy | Political leaders slam T.N. government, call for strict action against those involved in spurious liquor sales
The State government justifies its running of liquor shops by stating that this is being done in order to abolish the spurious liquor trade. But the deaths due to consumption of spurious liquor confirm that such arguments are not acceptable, Mr. Thirumavalavan said.
He also said strict action should be taken against officials who had links with the sellers of illicit liquor. Mr. Thirumavalavan urged Chief Minister M K Stalin to take measures to implement complete prohibition.
In a separate statement, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) president Jawahirullah called for the dismissal of officials involved in the incident.
The CB-CID should probe the links between the local police and those who sell illicit liquor, he said. He also called for a ban on methanol.
AMMK general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran, in a post on his social media handle on June 20, stated that the incident exposed the “total failure” of the State government and said the action taken against the District Collector and Superintendent of Police was mere “eyewash.”
Instead of seeking to cover up its faults under the guise of carrying out searches and arrests, the government should hold an elaborate enquiry and take stringent measures against the guilty, he said. z
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam general secretary N. Anand on Friday, June 21, 2024, said the party’s founder, actor Vijay, has urged cadres to avoid celebrating his birthday in June in view of the loss of lives due to spurious liquor in Kallakurichi district.
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