Chennai:

A pall of gloom has descended over Karunapuram village in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district. As many as 24 of the 39 who’ve died after consuming illicit liquor are from right here. A mass cremation is happening, and plenty of our bodies are nonetheless lined up.

A mom who misplaced her son is inconsolable. “He complained of extreme abdomen ache and couldn’t open his eyes. Initially, they did not even admit him saying he’s drunk. The federal government ought to shut down liquor retailers,” she wailed. 

Not less than 100 persons are being handled in numerous hospitals. On the Kallakurichi Authorities Medical School Hospital, many are battling breathlessness and lack of imaginative and prescient, and experiencing excruciating ache.

That is the second such tragedy in two years. Final yr, 22 have been killed after consuming methanol, however critics say the state authorities appears to have learnt no classes. 

After the newest incident, the district superintendent of police and several other cops have been suspended and the Collector has been transferred. Chief Minister MK Stalin has stated he’ll clampdown on the illicit liquor commerce with an iron hand. 

Three suspected bootleggers have been arrested and so they have a prison historical past. The police are looking out for the alleged kingpin, Chinnadurai, who allegedly equipped the distilled arrack that brought about the deaths. 

The opposition has demanded the resignation of Mr Stalin, alleging collusion by cadre of the ruling DMK. They’ve additionally blamed the police and requested if there was an intelligence failure. 

AIADMK Chief Edappadi Okay Palaniswamy stated, “Chief Minister Stalin ought to resign. That is incompetence. He provides an excuse each time”.

Taking a unique tack, Okay Annamalai, president of the Tamil Nadu BJP, added, “The state authorities ought to shut at the least a thousand liquor retailers.”

Mr Stalin didn’t go to the affected areas however despatched ministers, together with his son Udhayanidhi. Calling the incident painful and unhappy, he assured a crackdown and introduced a one-man fee to conduct an inquiry into the accident. The house secretary and the DGP are anticipated to submit a report in two days.

The sale of liquor by Tamil Nadu authorities fetches a whopping Rs 40,000 crore in income. That signifies the extent of alcohol habit within the state. Up to now, the DMK had argued that complete prohibition would solely open the floodgates of illicit liquor. Now, many are asking if it’s time for a relook on the alcohol coverage.