Authorities reported on Tuesday that twenty-one people have died in India and ten others are hospitalized after consuming contaminated liquor. Police have taken nine individuals into custody in connection with the incident.
Each year, hundreds of people in India lose their lives due to cheap alcohol produced in illegal distilleries. Bootleggers sell large quantities of this low-cost liquor to impoverished communities, evading government taxes.
To enhance its strength, the liquor is frequently mixed with methanol, which can lead to blindness, liver damage, and even death. The most recent incident occurred late Monday when villagers in the Amritsar district of Punjab consumed alcohol contaminated with methanol. "The death toll has now reached 21, with 10 individuals hospitalized," stated a public relations officer for the Amritsar district.
According to a social media post by the Punjab police, nine individuals have been arrested. An investigation is currently in progress "to reveal the complete modus operandi and hold all those involved accountable," according to the statement. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann emphasized that those responsible will face punishment. "We are united in our sorrow and our commitment to ensure justice is served and to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future," stated the Punjab police. Last year, 53 individuals lost their lives after consuming illicit alcohol in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
In December 2022, over 30 individuals lost their lives in Bihar, a state in eastern India, due to the consumption of contaminated alcohol. In July 2002, 28 people died and 60 others fell ill after ingesting illegal liquor in Gujarat, a western state where alcohol sales are prohibited. Additionally, last November in Laos, state media reported that six tourists died from suspected methanol poisoning.
