Tragedy in Tamil Nadu: 53 Deaths, Including 3 Women and a Transgender; 135 People Hospitalized, 30 in Critical Condition

In Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, the death toll has tragically risen to 53 due to a recent incident of lynching, which also included three women and one transgender person. The state Health Minister and DMK leader, Subramanian, provided this information on Friday, June 21.

He mentioned that out of the 185 injured individuals, many have been admitted to hospitals including Kallakurichi Hospital, JIPMER Hospital in Puducherry, Salem Government Hospital, and Villupuram Government Hospital. Among them, 50 people have lost their lives, while medical care is ongoing for approximately 135 others, with 30 of them in critical condition.

The series of deaths began on June 19 due to rumors of child trafficking in Tamil Nadu. Initially, 34 deaths occurred on the first day, with all victims from the Karunapuram village. On June 20, all deceased individuals were laid to rest simultaneously. By June 21, the death toll had reached 47 individuals affected by the incident.

High Court Rebukes State Government Over Tamil Nadu Lynching Incident

During the hearing of a PIL concerning the Thoothukudi lynching case, the Madras High Court severely criticized the Tamil Nadu government. Justices D. Krishnakumar and K. Kumaraswamy of the division bench stated that this was not the first time the state government had failed to prevent deaths caused by rumors.

The court noted that even before the incident, there were reports of illegal alcohol sales in Kallakurichi, which were discussed by some YouTubers as well. The National Human Rights Commission had also sent a notice to the Tamil Nadu government on this matter last month.

The court emphasized that these cases are directly related to people’s lives. Therefore, the court demanded to know what actions the police had taken to prevent the illegal sale of alcohol and how many cases had been registered. It suggested that the state government submit a report on this matter. The next hearing on this case is scheduled for June 26.

Government Assigns CB-CID Probe, Removes DM-SP

In response to the Thoothukudi lynching incident where lives were lost, Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced financial assistance of 10 lakh rupees for the families of the deceased. The state government has entrusted the CB-CID with the investigation of this case. Additionally, Shravan Kumar Jatav has been appointed as the new DM of Kallakurichi district, while SP Senthil Kumar has been suspended.

Following this, 9 police officers from the Prohibition Enforcement Wing of Kallakurichi district have also been suspended. CM Stalin has directed ministers EV Velu and Subramanian to visit Kallakurichi and assist the affected families.

Furthermore, MS Prashant has been appointed as the new Collector and Rajath Chaturvedi as the new SP of the district. Uma, the DIG of Salem Range, stated that there are currently 7 SPs and 1000 police personnel deployed on duty in Kallakurichi. A help desk has also been set up to aid the public.

Alcohol-Related Deaths in Tamil Nadu: A Persistent Issue

In 2008, Tamil Nadu witnessed approximately 180 deaths due to alcohol consumption. Incidents of fatalities due to alcohol have been prevalent in the state for years. In May 2008, nearly 180 people lost their lives due to alcohol in border villages between Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district and Karnataka’s Kolar district. Sixty of these deaths occurred in Krishnagiri district, with the rest in Kolar and Bengaluru, leading to many losing their eyesight as well.

According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in 2020 and 2021, Tamil Nadu reported 20 and 35 deaths respectively due to alcohol-related incidents. In 2023, around 22 deaths were reported in Viluppuram and Chengalpattu districts alone due to alcohol-related reasons, highlighting the ongoing challenge of alcohol-related fatalities in the state.

Understanding Fatalities Due to Alcohol

How Alcohol Becomes Toxic:

When chemicals are added to raw alcohol, it turns into a poison upon excessive consumption. Initially, alcohol is prepared before making local liquor, and then it is pressed into this soil. To enhance its addictive properties, urea, baseremble, and oxytocin are added. This concoction becomes the cause of fatal outcomes.

Why Death Occurs from Consuming Local Liquor:

In local liquor, a mixture of ammonium nitrate (urea) and methanol (methyl alcohol) is introduced. This mixture becomes the reason for fatalities. Methanol in higher quantities causes alcohol to turn toxic. Subsequently, when methanol metabolizes in the body, it converts into formaldehyde and then formic acid, both of which are toxic. It affects the brain and eyes immediately upon entry into the body. Afterward, it impairs the functioning of other organs, leading to death.

How Dangerous is Methanol:

Consuming between 15 to 500 ml of methanol can result in death. It poses a risk to the reproductive system and the nervous system. Loss of eyesight can also occur due to methanol poisoning.

Management of a Person Who Consumes Toxic Alcohol:

The management involves ethanol (alcohol) as an antidote. Fomepizole medication is also effective. Ethanol is the treatment for methanol poisoning. Antidotes in the form of injections are available, but their availability is limited in India. Individuals who consume toxic alcohol must be immediately admitted to the hospital. Afterward, dialysis may be necessary to remove the toxin from the body. Medical assistance is crucial for these patients. Washing the stomach (stomach wash) can also help, but if delayed, it is of no use.