District Collector M S Prasanth announced on Thursday that 29 people had passed away at Kallakurichi in Tamil Nadu as a result of ingesting illegal “packet arrack.”

In an interview with reporters here, the top district official stated that 109 patients are receiving care at various hospitals and that the condition of those who are in a critical condition “keeps changing” and will be updated at a later time.
According to State Minister for Highways EV Velu, among the victims were two women and one transgender person.

Prasanth further said sufficient medical professionals, including specialists from nearby government medical colleges have been deployed in the district to handle the situation, even as more number of ambulances with life-support have been stationed.

Senior Minister EV Velu briefed reporters here, stating that incidents of “illicit arrack sale” have occurred under all regimes and that it should not be assumed that they have only occurred during the DMK rule.

“This government has been taking severe action continuously; every government, DMK or AIADMK, has taken tough action,” he said.

Additionally, he stated to reporters that “we are taking tough action and as far as the government is concerned, there is no necessity for it to encourage illicit liquor peddlers.”