TOXIC ILLEGAL ALCOHOL IN INDIA CLAIMS 53 LIVES
The death toll from toxic illegal alcohol in India has reached 53, with victims succumbing to the poisonous brew in hospitals. The locally brewed arrack drink was laced with poisonous methanol, causing the deaths of 37 people within hours of consumption. Many more were rushed to hospitals, but some were beyond saving.
India sees hundreds of deaths annually due to cheap alcohol from illicit distilleries, with this recent poisoning being one of the worst in recent years. Often spiked with methanol to increase potency, the toxic liquor can lead to blindness, liver damage, and death.
Reports indicate how poor laborers in Kallakurichi district would buy the toxic brew in plastic bags for as little as $0.70 and consume it before work, resulting in cases of blindness and deaths.
Authorities have confirmed 53 deaths and made seven arrests in connection with the incident. The incident sheds light on the thriving black market for alcohol in India, where the high price of legal alcohol drives people to consume dangerous moonshine.