In 2nd incident, 3 alcoholics die after drinking painting varnish with water

Chennai: In a shocking incident, three people, including two Railway staff, unable to get liquor due to corona lockdown, died after they consumed painting varnish with water as a substitute for liquor near Chengalpet Railway quarters on Sunday.

Police said the deceased were Pradeep (25) and Sivasankar (33), both residents of Chengalpet Railway quarters, and their friend Sivaraman(25), who was working as a car driver.

While Pradeep was working as a pointsman at Padalam Railway station, Sivasankar, also a pointsman, was employed at Othivakkam station.

All the three were habitual drinkers and they could not get liquor as the state-owned TASMAC shops, the monopoly agency in selling liquor, were shut in view of the 21-day lockdown to prevent spread of coronavirus.

Today morning, all the three consumed painting varnish by mixing it with water, after which they vomited and swooned down.

Even before the ambulance could come to the spot, Sivaraman had died and the other were rushed to Chengalpet Government Hospital, where they died without responding to treatment.

Chengalpet Town police have registered a case and are investigating.

This is the second such incident in Tamil Nadu in as many days after three alcoholics died at Kottaipatnam coastal hamlet in Pudukottai district yesterday by consuming after shave lotion by mixing it with soft drinks as a substitute for booze.

Even as coronavirus claimed five lives, it was unfortunate that six liquor-related deaths were reported in the State in the last two days. (UNI)