At least 34 people have died and over 100 have been hospitalized after drinking illicit liquor mixed with methanol in India.
On the 20th (local time), Yonhap News quoted local media and foreign reports saying that such an incident occurred in Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India. A Tamil Nadu state government official stated that many of those hospitalized are in critical condition, so the death toll may rise.
The site of the illicit liquor poisoning incident that occurred in Punjab, India, in August 2020 [Photo source=Yonhap News]
It is reported that they purchased liquor packaged in bags on the 18th and drank it, then visited hospitals with symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
As the number of people hospitalized with these symptoms increased, the police, suspecting foul play, launched an investigation, arresting a man who illegally produced the liquor and seizing 200 liters of the illicit liquor he made.
The seized liquor was found to contain methanol. Methanol is a toxic substance used as a raw material for pesticides, and even a small amount can cause vision impairment.
The state government announced that at least 10 public officials, including police officers, have been suspended in connection with this incident.
Meanwhile, such 'illicit liquor tragedies' repeatedly occur in India. Last November, 19 residents died after drinking illicit liquor in Haryana state in the north, and a similar incident claimed about 20 lives in Tamil Nadu in the south the same year.
In December 2022, over 80 people were victims of illicit liquor in Bihar state in the east, and at least 28 people reportedly died in Gujarat state in the west.
These frequent incidents in India are largely due to many places officially banning the sale and consumption of alcohol.
As a result, residents often illegally produce liquor or purchase and drink illegally produced liquor. Especially, liquor sold with official licenses is expensive, so illicit liquor is prevalent mainly among the poor.
Illicit liquor is cheap but often mixed with chemicals such as pesticides to produce effects similar to real alcohol. Drinking such illicit liquor can lead to blindness, liver damage, or death.
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