Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: Commission finds lapses across departments

Chennai, Sep 8 (PTI) Administrative negligence, lack of timely intelligence and systemic failures across government departments contributed to the June 2024 Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, according to the report of the one-man commission headed by retired High Court judge B Gokuldas, tabled in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday.

The investigation found that despite initial warnings and clear indications of the manufacture and sale of illicit liquor, local police and revenue officials failed to take preventive measures, the report said.

In one of the state's worst toxic liquor disasters, a deadly batch of methanol-laced illicit liquor swept through Karunapuram village in Kallakurichi district in June 2024, killing 67 people and leaving more than 150 others with serious health complications.

Following the tragedy, the then DMK government appointed a one-man commission headed by Justice Gokuldas to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident.

The High Court had also ordered a CBI probe into the incident on November 20, 2024, which was subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court.

Highlighting serious lapses by the Police, Prohibition Enforcement Wing and Revenue departments, the commission held the Prohibition and Excise Department, the regular police force and the local revenue administration responsible for the tragedy.

The report fixed responsibility on personnel serving in Kallakurichi, Sankarapuram and Kachirapalayam police stations, sub-inspectors and inspectors of the Thirukoilur PEW, as well as local village administrative officers, village assistants, revenue inspectors and tahsildars.

The panel recommended departmental proceedings under relevant service rules against officers who served in these positions between May 2023 and June 19, 2024.

To prevent such incidents in the future, the commission called for stringent legislative and administrative reforms and recommended amendments to the law to strictly regulate the storage, transport and use of methanol.

Recognising the socio-economic factors underlying the crisis, the report urged the state government to establish new industries in Kallakurichi to provide employment opportunities for educated, skilled and unskilled youth.

Alongside administrative reforms, the panel recommended a range of rehabilitation measures for affected families.

It recommended that children orphaned by the tragedy be given priority access to government hostels for food, shelter and education, with relaxed recruitment rules to provide them suitable government employment after they complete their studies.

The commission proposed additional compensation of Rs 2 lakh for victims suffering partial permanent disability and Rs 5 lakh for those with total permanent disability, besides educational scholarships and expedited widow pension benefits.

To ensure long-term stability, it urged the government to facilitate low-interest loans for survivors and dependent family members to start small businesses and secure sustainable livelihoods.