Tamil Nadu Hooch Tragedy Death Toll Reaches 55, At Least 88 More Hospitalized

Chennai: The death toll in the spurious liquor tragedy in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district has increased to 55. At least 88 others, who consumed the toxic liquor over are being treated in hospitals.

Many of these victims were from Karunapuram area. Three minor children have lost both their parents in the tragedy.

Police have arrested four suspected bootleggers and detained 10 others in relation to these liquor deaths.

The Tamil Nadu government has suspended Kallakuruchi district police chief Samay Singh Meena and appointed Rajat Chaturvedi in his place. Collector Sravan Kumar Jatavath has been replaced by MS Prasanth.

A DSP rank officer of the prohibition enforcement wing, three inspectors and three sub-inspectors were also suspended. The state government has ordered the CB-CID to investigate the toxic liquor death case.

The Madras High Court on Friday rapped the Tamil Nadu government over the hooch tragedy. “How did you let it happen,” the court said citing last year’s tragedy.