AlejandroQkj at 20:41, 4 February 2026

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{{Short description|2008 poisoning incident in India}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
The '''2008 Karnataka-Tamil Nadu alcohol poisonings''' was an incident in the southern Indian states of [[Karnataka]] and [[Tamil Nadu]] in May 2008 in which 180 people reportedly died after consuming illicit liquor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-05-20/bangalore/27752022_1_spurious-liquor-hooch-tragedy-tamil-nadu-s-krishnagiri |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021070802/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-05-20/bangalore/27752022_1_spurious-liquor-hooch-tragedy-tamil-nadu-s-krishnagiri |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 October 2013 |title=K'taka, TN hooch toll mounts to 64 |date=20 May 2008 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=21 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="india1">{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/states/karnataka-hooch-tragedy-toll-mounts-to-156_444250.html |title=Karnataka hooch tragedy toll mounts to 156 |publisher=Zeenews.india.com |access-date=21 October 2013}}</ref> This incident is considered to be the worst [[List of methanol poisoning incidents|methanol poisoning]] in the country since at least 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.de/scores-of-hooch-deaths-every-year-in-india/a-5211956 |title=Scores of Hooch Deaths Every Year in India |publisher=Deutsche Welle |date=14 July 2009 |access-date=7 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/hooch-tragedies-in-india-148938-2011-12-15 | title=Hooch tragedies in India | work=India Today | date=16 December 2011 | access-date=21 October 2013}}</ref>

== Incident ==
On 18 May 2008, some people from the [[Bangalore Urban]], [[Bangalore Rural]] and [[Kolar district]] in the state of Karnataka and neighbouring [[Krishnagiri district]] in the state of Tamil Nadu, consumed [[moonshine]] (illicit liquor) made with [[camphor]] and tobacco. This drink contained toxic [[methyl alcohol]],<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/world/asia/21india.html?_r=0 | title=Poison Moonshine Kills 110 of India's Poor | work=The New York Times | date=21 May 2008 | access-date=3 November 2013}}</ref> which initially caused the death of 156 people. Of these, 56 were in urban Bangalore, 27 were in rural Bangalore, 32 were in Kolar, and 41 were in Krishnagiri.<ref name="india1"/> Several people were hospitalised complaining of stomach pain and vomiting. A small number lost their eyesight. The death toll later rose to 180 as hospitalised victims died.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.oneindia.com/2008/05/23/hooch-death-rises-180-karnataka-1211524200.html | title=Hooch death toll rises to 180 in Karnataka | publisher=One India | date=23 May 2008 | access-date=21 October 2013 | archive-date=21 October 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021131609/http://news.oneindia.in/2008/05/23/hooch-death-rises-180-karnataka-1211524200.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Poor people prefer illicit liquor as it is cheaper than [[Indian Made Foreign Liquor]], which was the main reason for the incident.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/from-slow-poison-to-instant-killer/article1261429.ece | title=From slow poison to instant killer | work=The Hindu | date=20 May 2008 | access-date=21 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="Dasgupta2011">{{cite book|author=Amitava Dasgupta|title=The Science of Drinking: How Alcohol Affects Your Body and Mind|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u3qc7aqWt9oC&pg=PA215|date=16 April 2011|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-1-4422-0411-9|pages=215–}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
Police arrested 52 people for producing and supplying the poisonous liquor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/25/stories/2008052561210300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915043230/http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/25/stories/2008052561210300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 September 2011 |title=Karnataka / Bangalore News : Hooch tragedy: eight more arrested |date=25 May 2008 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=21 October 2013}}</ref> After the tragedy, the governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu started an awareness campaign to encourage people not to consume illicit liquor.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/hooch-toll-crosses-40-govt-starts-awareness-campaign/311766/ | title=Hooch toll crosses 40, Govt starts awareness campaign | work=The Indian Express | date=20 May 2008 | access-date=21 October 2013}}</ref> In Karnataka, the opposition party blamed the then-ruling coalition for the tragedy and stated that decision to ban [[arrack]] was the reason for the incident.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/20/stories/2008052061400400.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081118170549/http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/20/stories/2008052061400400.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=18 November 2008 | title=Hooch tragedy triggers political blame game | date=20 May 2008 | work=[[The Hindu]] | access-date=21 October 2013}}</ref> In Tamil Nadu, some political parties demanded reintroduction of [[Prohibition in Tamil Nadu|prohibition]] in the state.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/24/stories/2008052452690400.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526075530/http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/24/stories/2008052452690400.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=26 May 2008 | title=Hooch tragedy exposes hollowness of prohibition policy | date=24 May 2008 | work=[[The Hindu]] | access-date=21 October 2013}}</ref> The Tamil Nadu government suspended 21 policemen for the incident.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-06-24/chennai/27746847_1_hooch-tragedy-police-personnel-krishnagiri-district | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021143549/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-06-24/chennai/27746847_1_hooch-tragedy-police-personnel-krishnagiri-district | url-status=dead | archive-date=21 October 2013 | title=TN hooch tragedy: 21 cops suspended | date=24 June 2008 | work=[[The Times of India]] | access-date=21 October 2013}}</ref> Bangalore police arrested a kingpin of the illicit liquor network, but the prime supplier committed suicide.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-05-23/bangalore/27754555_1_illicit-liquor-sounder-hooch | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021143551/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-05-23/bangalore/27754555_1_illicit-liquor-sounder-hooch | url-status=dead | archive-date=21 October 2013 | title=City police nab hooch lord Sounder in TN | date=23 May 2008 | work=[[The Times of India]] | access-date=21 October 2013}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of alcohol poisonings in India]]
*[[List of methanol poisoning incidents]]

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

[[Category:Alcohol-related deaths in India]]
[[Category:Methanol poisoning incidents]]
[[Category:Krishnagiri district]]
[[Category:Alcohol in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:May 2008 in India|Karnataka-Tamil Nadu alcohol poisonings]]
[[Category:2008 crimes in India|Karnataka-Tamil Nadu alcohol poisonings]]
[[Category:2000s in Karnataka|Karnataka-Tamil Nadu alcohol poisonings]]
[[Category:Crime in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:2000s in Tamil Nadu|Karnataka-Tamil Nadu alcohol poisonings]]
[[Category:Crime in Karnataka]]

2008 Karnataka-Tamil Nadu alcohol poisonings - Revision history

AlejandroQkj at 20:41, 4 February 2026