EW News Desk
At least 34 people have died after consuming toxic bootleg alcohol in Tamil Nadu, a southern Indian state, according to officials. The incident occurred in Kallakuruchi district, where several residents became ill after drinking the liquor on Tuesday night. Currently, around 80 people are receiving hospital treatment for illnesses like severe diarrhea, and officials warn that the death toll may increase.
Two arrests have been made, and a broader investigation is ongoing. Additionally, authorities have suspended a senior police official and ten members of the state’s prohibition enforcement wing, responsible for preventing the smuggling of illicit alcohol, for negligence.
Each year, dozens of people in India die from consuming bootleg alcohol produced in backstreet distilleries. Bootleggers often add methanol—a highly toxic form of alcohol sometimes used as an antifreeze—to their concoctions to increase potency. Even in small quantities, methanol can cause blindness, liver damage, and death.
