Contents:
At least 56 people are dead after the spread of toxic illegal alcohol in India, and 117 others have been hospitalized.
Arrack is a common distilled alcoholic drink found in South Asia in countries like India and Sri Lanka, and it comes from the fermented sap of coconut flowers or sugarcane. The alcohol by volume is quite high, ranging from 33-50%. Unfortunately, distilleries using unsafe products and ingredients can sometimes sell substandard drinks that can contain dangerous chemicals.
Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is a poisonous substance that can kill you if ingested in large amounts, and it is a toxic byproduct of fermentation. Moonshine contains up to 10% methanol if not distilled properly, which is why moonshine is illegal in most areas of India– it has killed thousands of people due to lead and arsenic poisoning. Also, many factories add methanol to increase the alcohol content without actually paying for alcohol, allowing them to reap the benefits at the expense of the lives of poor workers.
Similarly, this batch of local arrack was laced with methanol, which has serious side effects. Methanol causes many severe effects on the body, such as blindness and kidney failure, and if you drink enough, it will easily kill you. Impoverished workers in the state of Tamil Nadu happened to buy this lethal batch of arrack, immediately killing some and severely injuring hundreds of others.
Sadly, this isn’t the first time this has happened. Due to the improper distillation practices and how companies cut corners with liquor in small, poorer areas of India, dozens of people die each year from methanol poisoning from their alcohol. Due to laws prohibiting alcohol, buying illegal liquor is inexpensive and convenient for workers. Families of the affected are now urging the government to take action on this matter to make sure that events like this never happen again.
On another note, on Sunday, Russia issued a statement saying that the U.S. was responsible for a Ukrainian attack on the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. According to the statement, five U.S.-supplied missiles killed four people and injured 151 others. Russian authorities stated four of the missiles were shot down by air defense systems, and the fifth detonated in midair. Missile fragments fell just after noon next to a beach in northern Sevastopol, which killed/injured the affected people.
The incident generated a furious reaction from public figures. Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, said there was “no difference to us” between the U.S. government, Ukrainian leaders, and “crazy fanatics.” Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill said there "was no justification whatsoever for a missile strike on civilians" and voiced indignation that it had taken place on the Orthodox holiday of Trinity.
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