Nine killed after drinking toddy in Kerala

MALAPPURAM - Nine people, including five from Tamil Nadu, died after consuming toddy from three liquor shops in this Kerala district, officials said Monday.

The three toddy shops were located in and around Kuttipuram area but the district administration has closed down all the toddy shops in the district until further orders.

“We have now reports that those who died have been drinking from these shops for the past two days. While one person died two days back, it was initially written off as a heart attack, but now it appears that was not the case. While some died last (Sunday) night, the others passed away today (Monday),” local legislator T.K. Jaleel told IANS.

“One more is in serious condition, while another has turned blind. The preliminary report indicates that the toddy contained methyl alcohol,” Jaleel said.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who visited the area, said that none of the guilty would be spared.

“We have asked for a murder case to be registered against those responsible. One person who looks after the shops has been arrested. The guilty won’t be spared,” he said.

Angry Congress workers smashed the toddy shops to vent their anger.

State Congress president Ramesh Chennithala demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.

“For some time Kerala has been under the siege of illicit liquor and the government is a silent witness to the free flow of illicit stuff. Only a probe by a sitting judge would reveal everything,” he said.

Toddy is a traditional local drink extracted from either a coconut tree or a Palm tree flower. Drinking toddy has the same effect as drinking any alcoholic beverage. Some states in India prohibit or regulate the production of toddy.