At least 34 people died, and around 100 were hospitalised on Wednesday after allegedly drinking illicit liquor in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district, officials said on Thursday. The death toll is likely to increase, they said. So far, four people have been arrested.
Critical patients have been admitted to hospitals in Salem, Tiruvannamalai, and Puducherry.
Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin said he was “shocked” by the deaths and stated that action was taken against those officials who were responsible for not preventing the incident.
In a post on X, MK Stalin said, “I was shocked and saddened to hear the news of the deaths of people who had consumed adulterated liquor in Kallakurichi. Those involved in the crime have been arrested in this matter. Action has also been taken against the officials who failed to prevent it.