At least 53 people have died and 20 are in critical condition after drinking illegally brewed liquor in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

The toxic moonshine incident has left dozens seriously ill, with the death toll feared to rise as more than 100 people remain in the hospital.

The incident occurred in the Kallakurichi district, where a total of 117 people are receiving treatment. Chief Minister MK Stalin stated that at least 164 people took ill after consuming the illicit liquor, but locals suspect the number could be higher as deaths in neighboring villages went unreported.

The men experienced symptoms like giddiness, headache, vomiting, and nausea after consuming the liquor on Tuesday. They were rushed to the hospital and are receiving treatment at Kallakurichi Government Medical College, JIPMER Puducherry, and Salem Government Hospital.

Police have arrested four men following the incident and seized 200 liters of the illegal liquor. Investigators found that the man suspected of brewing the unlicensed liquor used methanol in the mix, which is believed to be the cause of the deaths.

The state government has promised to take stringent action against those responsible, and immediate action will be taken if the public informs authorities about those involved in such crimes. The government also pledged to take care of the education of children who lost either of their parents in the tragedy and provide additional allowances and financial support.

This isn't the first time India has reported deaths from consumption of illegally brewed alcohol. In May 2023, at least 22 people died after drinking moonshine in Chengalpattu and Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu. In 2022, over 30 people died in the dry state of Bihar after allegedly drinking tainted liquor, and at least 46 people died in the western Indian state of Gujarat after drinking spurious alcohol.

The Madras High Court has pulled up the Tamil Nadu government for failing to take action against hooch sales despite previous incidents, and has ordered the government to file a detailed report on the action taken and a counter affidavit.

This tragic incident highlights the ongoing issue of illegal liquor sales and the need for stronger regulations and enforcement to prevent such incidents from occurring. Readers interested in learning more about this issue and supporting efforts to address it can visit the author's blog at justicepretorius.blogspot.com and consider contributing to their work at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/JusticePretorius.