At least 34 people have died after consuming toxic bootleg alcohol in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, officials have said. At least 80 people are being treated in hospitals for illnesses such as excessive diarrhoea and officials say the death toll could rise further. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced a compensation of 1m rupees ($12,000; £9,425) to families of those who have died and 50,000 rupees each to those who are hospitalised. Action has also been taken against the officials who failed to prevent it,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Bootleggers often add methanol, a highly toxic form of alcohol sometimes used as an anti-freeze – to their mixture to increase its strength.

Source: Nigerian Tribune June 20, 2024 15:45 UTC