Lethal liquor: Over 37 dead in Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy

At least 37 people have died so far after consuming illicit 'packet arrack' in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi on Tuesday night.

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly paid respects to those who lost their lives due to consuming illicit liquor in Kallakurichi along with the victims of the Kuwait fire.

DMK leader TKS Elangovan urged people to refrain from consuming illicit liquor. "When people don't have money, they go for cheap illicit liquor. People should understand that if they resort to such things, it will take away their lives and their family will suffer," he said.

AIADMK general secretary Edapaddi K Palaniswami criticized the Stalin government over the deaths saying, "DMK is behind illicit liquor sales in Tamil Nadu" and drugs are being sold all over the state."

Police have arrested a bootlegger named K Govindaraj alias Kannukutti, 49, on charges of selling illicit arrack and seized more than 200 litres of the brew. Samples tested at a forensic laboratory in Villupuram were found to have the poisonous methanol.

Kin of each of the 37 deceased will get Rs 10 lakh as ex gratia from the Tamil Nadu government. The injured to get Rs 50,000.

Tamil Nadu govt has also announced a judicial inquiry into the tragedy. Retired judge of Madras high court, Justice B Gokuldas is to hold inquiry and suggest solutions.