The death toll in the illicit liquor tragedy at two places in Kollam district in Kerala mounted to 24 with three more persons dying in hospital on Monday morning, police said. Those who died belonged to Pallickal raising the number of victims from that area to 10, while 14 other victims were from Kalluvathukal, police said.
According to Thiruvanthapuram Medical College Hospital sources, 17 fresh cases of liquor poisoning were brought in from Pallickal early on Monday.
Altogether, 140 persons were in the medical college hospital, undergoing treatment. Six persons, whose condition was serious, were in the intensive care unit, they said. Meanwhile, shops, business and commercial establishments in Kollam district downed shutters in response to a call for a hartal given by the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front.
Buses remained off the roads in the district and educational institutions were closed. Bureau Report