Kallakurichi Hooch Tragedy: A total of 156 people who became ill as a result of the illicit arrack are being treated in various hospitals, with seven people recovering.
The District Collectorate of Tamil Nadu announced on Monday that four more deaths linked to the consumption of illicit liquor brought the total number of deaths in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy to 57. The news follows the June 19 reports of 53 casualties, with the Karunapuram district being the most severely affected.
Two people who drank the fake liquor and became seriously ill died on Sunday, according to media reports.
156 patients who became ill as a result of the illegal arrack are receiving treatment at several hospitals, including the Salem Government Medical College and Hospital, JIPMER Pondicherry, Kallakurichi Government Hospital, and Villupuram Medical College and Hospital, as per The Ultimate News report.
According to the news agency, seven individuals—two from a private hospital and five from JIPMER—have made a full recovery.
The Madras High Court chastised the Tamil Nadu government and ordered a report on steps taken to stop the sale of illegal arrack in the state in response to the growing death toll.
A division bench of Justices D Krishnakumar and K Kumaresh Babu issued the directive during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that AIADMK legal wing secretary I S Inbadurai had filed. The Central Bureau of Investigation was to take over the case’s investigation, according to the PIL.