Thiruvananthapuram, Wednesday 08 September 2010: The Kerala cabinet on Wednesday decided to provide five lakh rupees as compensation for those killed in Malappuram hooch tragedy.

Chief Minster had earlier announced a compensation of one lakh rupees to the kin of the deceased. A compensation of four laksh rupees each would be given to those who lost eyesight after consuming the killer brew.

The Cabinet meeting also gave formal approval to a judicial inquiry by a sitting judge about the incident. Announcing the decision VS Achuthanandan said that the government would soon write to the chief justice of the High Court seeking service of a sitting judge for the purpose.

Earlier report

The death toll has risen to 23 due to the hooch tragedy in Vandoor and Kuttippuram areas. Till Monday late night, 18 people had died after they consumed poisoned toddy from shops at Vaniyambalam, Kuttippuram, Perasannur and Alathiyur.

Health authorities on Tuesday confirmed the death of Nagarajan from Andhra Pradesh, Balakrishnan from Perasannur, Ramachandran from Tamil Nadu, and Chathu from Tirunavaya. They were being treated in different hospitals.

Hundreds of people who consumed toddy from shops across the district reached hospitals for treatment since Monday after they developed symptoms of poisoning. As many as 148 cases were being treated at Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode. Hospitals in Wandoor reported 122 cases of poisoning.

Two Excise officers have been suspended from service n connection with the hooch tragedy which claimed the lives of 23 people in Vandoor and Kuttippuram areas. Malappuram excise Deputy commissioner and Kuttippuram Assistant excise inspector have been suspended.

The persons who have consumed the liquor from the Vaniyambalam shop had lost their lives. The illicit liquor was brought from Chittoor.
The liquor shop contractor Dravyan has been taken into custody in connection with this incident. Reports confirm that the liquor was adulterated using Methanol, which when consumed would prove fatal.

Earlier report: -

The other deceased have been identified as Sethu Madhavan, Shiju, Velayudhan, Kumaran, Meenakshi, Rajeev, Chinnaswamy, Prakash and Balan.

Nine persons including five Malayalees have died after consuming illicit liquor in Kuttipuram, Malappuram district yesterday. The other four are natives of Tamil Nadu.

The deceased have been identified as Chathu (a resident of Meppad), Navas, Soman, Balan and Dasan. The Tamil Nadu natives have been identified as Nithin, Dhanashekharan, Subramanian and Kanakkarayi.
State Labour and Excise minister P.K Gurudasan had earlier told that instructions had been given for a detailed probe into the matter.

Minister affirmed that he had also ordered for the submission of a detailed investigation report regarding the same. If any evidences that confirm a liquor tragedy were received the case would be registered on murder charges, said Gurudasan.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan who visited the hospital had informed that a high level probe would be conducted into the hooch tragedy. KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala today demanded that a judicial probe must be conducted in to the illicit liquor tragedy near Kuttippuram in Malappuram district today.