A relative weeps next to the dead body of a victim who died after consuming toxic illegal alcohol in Kallakurichi district of India's Tamil Nadu state on June 20, 2024. Drinking liquor was acceptable in a south Indian village until at least 47 people died from a fatal poisoning earlier this week after they consumed arrack, a distilled alcoholic drink. - AFP
BENGALURU, India (AFP): The death toll from a batch of toxic illegal alcohol in India has risen to 53, media reported Sunday, as more victims in hospital succumbed to the poisonous brew.
Tamil Nadu state Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has said the locally brewed arrack drink was laced with poisonous methanol, killing 37 within hours after they drank the illegal alcohol on Tuesday.
