56 Dead After Drinking 1,000-Won Illicit Liquor in India

The number of people who died after drinking illicit liquor mixed with methanol in India has risen to 56.

The appearance of a slum in India is unrelated to the content of the article. [Photo source=Pixabay]

On the 25th, major media outlets including AFP reported, citing the Indian police announcement, that "as of the 24th, the death toll from toxic illegal alcohol has increased to 56," and "117 people hospitalized are receiving treatment." On the 18th, in Kalakurichi, Tamil Nadu in southern India, hundreds of people who bought and drank liquor known as 'Arak' contained in plastic bags visited hospitals with symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, resulting in casualties.

Most of these individuals were poor laborers who reportedly bought the liquor in plastic bags for 60 rupees (about 1,000 KRW) and drank it before going to work. The police launched an investigation, arrested one man who illegally manufactured the liquor, and seized 200 liters of the illicit liquor he produced.

It was revealed that the seized liquor contained methanol. Methanol is a toxic substance used as a raw material for pesticides, and even a small amount can cause vision impairment if ingested. The state government has suspended at least 10 public officials, including police officers, in connection with this incident.

Every year in India, hundreds of people die from cheap liquor made in back-alley distilleries. Methanol is often added to increase the potency of the illicit liquor. In November last year, 19 residents died after drinking illicit liquor in Haryana in northern India, and a similar accident claimed about 20 lives in Tamil Nadu in the south during the same year. In December 2022, over 80 people were victims of illegal liquor production in Bihar in the east, and at least 28 people died in Gujarat in the west. In India, many places officially prohibit the sale and consumption of alcohol, and legally sold alcohol is expensive, leading to the widespread consumption of illicit liquor, especially among the poor.