Darkness to death in minutes: Spurious liquor claims 53 lives, leaves community reeling

In Karunapuram, Kallakurichi district, Tamil Nadu, the tragic toll of spurious liquor has reached 53 deaths. The incident has devastated families like that of M Radha, whose husband succumbed after consuming the toxic brew. The community, largely comprising daily wage laborers, often turns to illicit arrack for relief from physical strain. The addition of methanol, a lethal chemical, to the arrack exacerbated the crisis, causing symptoms like blindness and organ failure.