Methanol Poisoning: At Least 53 Dead, Over 100 Hospitalized After Consuming Toxic Moonshine in Tamil Nadu

Kallakurichi, Tamil Nadu India
At least 53 people have died and over 100 are hospitalized due to methanol poisoning from toxic moonshine in Tamil Nadu.
Compensation will be given to families of deceased victims when they turn 18.
Illicit liquor sales continue to be a major issue across India with complicity from police and involvement of organized crime rings.
Methanol, a toxic chemical substance, can lead to blindness, liver damage or death even in small quantities.
Tamil Nadu government has taken action against those responsible and deployed medical teams and ambulances.
Vendors sell illegal alcohol for huge profits by adding methanol to increase potency.
Methanol Poisoning: At Least 53 Dead, Over 100 Hospitalized After Consuming Toxic Moonshine in Tamil Nadu

At least 53 people have lost their lives and over 100 are hospitalized after consuming toxic moonshine in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The first reported death occurred on December 2023, and the victims were primarily from the village of Karunapuram in Kallakurichi district. The cause of death was determined to be methanol poisoning from bootleg alcohol.

Methanol, a highly toxic chemical substance used for industrial purposes, can lead to blindness, liver damage or death even in small quantities. People often resort to buying illegal alcohol as they cannot afford branded spirits or due to prohibition laws. Vendors sell the cheap alcohol for huge profits by adding methanol to increase its potency.

The Tamil Nadu government has taken stringent action against those responsible, appointing M.S. Prasanth as the new top official in Kallakurichi and suspending several police officers. Specialist doctors and medicine stocks for methanol poisoning antidote have been moved to Kalakurichi.

The families of the deceased victims will receive financial compensation from the government, with Rs 500,000 being deposited in their bank accounts when they turn 18. Ambulances and medical teams have been deployed to hospitals such as Kallakurichi Government Medical College, JIPMER Puducherry, and Salem Government Hospital to treat the affected individuals.

The sale of illicit liquor to minors is a growing concern, with 13-year-old and 15-year-old boys being sold packets of the toxic substance. The state government has ordered a detailed report on action taken against hooch sales, arrests in Salem district, and deaths from illegally brewed alcohol in India.

The New Indian Express reported that at least 28 people died in Gujarat and more than 30 people died in Bihar state due to similar incidents. The sale of illicit liquor continues to be a major issue across India, with complicity from police and the involvement of organized crime rings.

The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to identify the sources of the methanol used in the toxic moonshine.


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Confidence

96%

Doubts
  • Was the exact quantity of methanol in the toxic moonshine determined?
  • Were all victims above legal drinking age?

Sources

97%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

India: Tainted alcohol death toll rises to 54 in Tamil Nadu

Al Jazeera Media Network Al Jazeera Monday, 24 June 2024 01:02
  • Unique Points
    • At least 54 people have died and dozens are still hospitalised after drinking alcohol laced with methanol in Tamil Nadu.
    • Forty-eight men and six women have succumbed to the tainted liquor as of Saturday.
    • People regularly buy illegal alcohol as few can afford branded spirits, leading to large casualty incidents when some vendors add methanol to increase potency.
    • Methanol, a highly toxic chemical substance used for industrial purposes, can lead to blindness, liver damage or death even in small quantities.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article reports on a tragic incident with factual information. However, it includes an inflammatory rhetoric by stating 'People regularly buy illegal alcohol as few can afford branded spirits sometimes leading to large casualty incidents since some vendors add methanol to increase the potency of their drink.' This is not a direct quote from any individual but rather an opinionated statement by the author. Additionally, there is a dichotomous depiction by contrasting 'branded spirits' with 'illegal alcohol', implying that one is inherently better than the other.
    • People regularly buy illegal alcohol as few can afford branded spirits sometimes leading to large casualty incidents since some vendors add methanol to increase the potency of their drink.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

97%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Deadly methanol-laced bootleg liquor kills dozens in South India

National Public Radio (NPR) Anupama Chandrasekaran Sunday, 23 June 2024 00:00
  • Unique Points
    • Four of the hospitalized patients remain in critical condition.
    • The Tamil Nadu government appointed M.S. Prasanth as the new top official in Kallakurichi and suspended several police officers.
    • Specialist doctors and medicine stocks for methanol poisoning antidote were moved to Kalakurichi.
  • Accuracy
    • ]At least 54 people have died and dozens are still hospitalised[
    • ]At least 53 people have died[
    • ]117 people are receiving treatment[
    • ]Forty-eight men and six women have succumbed to the tainted liquor[
    • ]98 people have been hospitalized[
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Toxic Moonshine Leaves at Least 53 Dead in India’s South

The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Mujib Mashal, Saturday, 22 June 2024 11:35
  • Unique Points
    • At least 53 people have died in Tamil Nadu, India from consuming toxic bootleg alcohol.
    • 98 people have been hospitalized due to the consumption of the toxic alcohol.
    • The first death was reported on Wednesday, December 2023.
    • Karunapuram village was the worst hit with over a dozen victims receiving last rites in a mass cremation on Thursday.
  • Accuracy
    • , At least 54 people have died and dozens are still hospitalised after drinking alcohol laced with methanol in Tamil Nadu.
    • , At least 56 people died after consuming methanol-laced liquor produced in the Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu, India.
    • , At least 120 people died in the northern state of Punjab in 2020.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

96%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Toxic moonshine kills 53 people in India and leaves dozens seriously ill

The Independent Alisha Rahaman Saturday, 22 June 2024 07:45
  • Unique Points
    • 13-year-old and 15-year-old boys are sold illicit liquor in packets.
    • >Rs 500,000 will be deposited in the bank accounts of bereaved children when they turn 18.<
  • Accuracy
    • At least 53 people have died and dozens are still hospitalised after drinking alcohol laced with methanol in Tamil Nadu.
    • ,
    • At least 54 people have died and dozens are still hospitalised after drinking alcohol laced with methanol in Tamil Nadu.
    • More than 100 people have been treated since Wednesday in the district of Kallakurichi.
    • Nearly 200 people have been treated since Wednesday in the district of Kallakurichi.
    • Forty-eight men and six women have succumbed to the tainted liquor as of Saturday.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication