A total of 141 others, including five women, are undergoing treatment at various government hospitals in Salem, Villupuram and Puducherry
The death toll in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu rose to 53 with three more persons losing their lives after consuming spurious liquor at Karunapuram. The victims included five women and a transperson.
Most of the victims who succumbed on the interim night between Friday and Saturday were from Karunapuram.
Twenty-nine persons died at the Government Kallakurichi Medical College Hospital, 17 at the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital in Salem, four at the Government Villupuram Medical College Hospital and three at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) in Puducherry.
A total of 141 others, including five women, are undergoing treatment at the Government Kallakurichi Medical College Hospital, and government medical college hospitals in Salem, Villupuram, and Jipmer in Puducherry.
On Friday, June 22, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin chaired a review meeting via video conferencing with District Collectors and District Superintendent of Police on measures taken to curb illicit liquor.
Calls for CBI inquiry
After the main opposition party, AIADMK, demanded a CBI inquiry into the hooch tragedy deaths district, PMK founder S. Ramadoss on Friday, June 22, also said the Tamil Nadu government must hand over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation since police higher officials who were supporting this trade needed to be brought to book.
District administrations begin crackdown
The police in the Central Zone, encompassing nine districts, have booked 342 prohibition cases on June 19 and 20 with Thanjavur district accounting for highest number of cases. Stern action was being taken against those selling liquor illegally and those involved in hoarding and smuggling in the nine districts, a police press note said.