At least 34 people have died and around 100 others are hospitalized after consuming spurious/illicit liquor (commonly referred to as "hooch").

Location: Kallakurichi district in Tamil Nadu

Timeline: The incident occurred recently, causing a major public health crisis in the region.

Causes: The deaths were caused by the consumption of illegally produced or adulterated alcohol, which can contain toxic substances.

Impact: The tragedy has devastated the affected families and communities. It has also highlighted the need for stronger regulation and enforcement to prevent the sale and consumption of dangerous illicit liquor.

Government Response: The Tamil Nadu government has initiated an investigation into the incident and promised strict action against those responsible. Relief measures and medical assistance are being provided to the affected individuals and families.

About Hooch

• Hooch is a commonly used term for poor quality alcohol, derived from Hoochinoo, a native
• Alaskan tribe that was known to produce very strong liquor.
• Unlike branded liquor which is produced in factories with sophisticated equipment and
• rigorous quality control, hooch is made in more crude settings (in many cases homemade) without any quality checks.

Process

• Like all alcohol, hooch is produced using two basic processes: fermentation and distillation.
•  Hooch is produced using distillation of a fermented mixture, generally of locally available yeast, and sugar or fruit (often fruit waste).
• The fermented mixture which is to be distilled contains more than just consumable alcohol (ethanol).
•  It also contains methanol (CH3OH), a different form of alcohol which is highly toxic for human beings.
• During the distillation, both ethanol (boiling point of 78.37 °C) and methanol (boiling point of 64.7 °C) are concentrated.
• Thus, if done incorrectly, distillation can lead to an end product which contains high quantities of toxic methanol.

Regulation of Methanol in India

methanol is tightly regulated in India as a hazardous chemical, with specific limits on its permissible quantities in alcoholic beverages and standards for its quality testing and packaging requirements. The key regulations and standards that apply are outlined below.

Regulations:

• Schedule I of the Manufacture, Storage & Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules 1989 includes methanol as a hazardous chemical.
• The Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations 2018 stipulate the maximum permissible quantity of methanol in different types of alcoholic beverages:
  • Coconut fenny: Absent
  • Country liquor: 50 grams per 100 litres
  • Other liquors: Varying limits specified

Standards:

• The Indian Standard (IS 517) applies to how the quality of methanol is to be ascertained.
• The Tamil Nadu Denatured Spirit, Methyl Alcohol, and Varnish (French Polish) Rules 1959 regulate the signage and packaging requirements for methanol.

How Can Methanol Poisoning Be Treated?
Methanol takes time to be eliminated from the body after consumption. There are two immediate treatments for methanol intoxication.
Healthcare staff can administer pharmaceutical-grade ethanol to patients. Ethanol and methanol compete for the ADH enzymes. As a result, methanol is not metabolised into formaldehyde. Another alternative is to administer fomepizole, an antidote that reduces the function of ADH enzymes. This causes the body to manufacture formaldehyde at a slower pace and remove it fast, preventing the harmful effects from occurring.

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) plays a pivotal role in the country’s disaster response and crisis management framework.

About NCMC

• Purpose: NCMC is the top-level body in charge of managing national emergencies. It coordinates efforts and provides support during crises, such as natural disasters (heat waves, forest fires) and man-made emergencies.
• Functions:
  • Coordination: Ensures effective coordination among different agencies and state governments.
  • Support: Provides logistical, financial, and operational support to enhance disaster response.
  • Monitoring: Keeps high-level authorities, including the Prime Minister, informed about the crisis situation and response progress.

Structure and Composition

• Chairman: Cabinet Secretary.
• Members:
  • Secretaries to the Prime Minister and key ministries (Home Affairs, Agriculture, Defence & Cooperation).
  • Directors of RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) and Intelligence Bureau (IB).

Key Responsibilities

• Coordination & Resource Allocation: Directs and oversees disaster response, ensuring effective use of resources and coordination among different agencies and states.
• Crisis Management & Strategic Planning: Issues directives to the Crisis Management Group (CMG) and devises strategic plans for disaster management.

Logistic Support

• Deployment: Utilizes aircraft, boats, and specialist teams, including Armed Forces, Central Paramilitary Forces (CAPF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
• Essential Supplies: Arranges for relief materials, medical supplies, and infrastructure restoration, including communication networks.

Basic Responsibility

• State Government: Responsible for relief, rehabilitation, preparedness, and response measures at the state level.
• Central Government (NCMC): Supplements state efforts with additional support and coordination.

The Crisis Management Group (CMG) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) play crucial roles in disaster management in India, but they have different focuses and responsibilities.

Crisis Management Group (CMG)

Responsibilities:

1. Contingency Plan Review: Annually reviews the contingency plans formulated by central ministries and departments.
2. Natural Calamity Measures: Reviews measures required for dealing with natural calamities.
3. Coordination: Coordinates activities of central ministries and state governments related to disaster preparedness and relief.
4. Information Gathering: Obtains information from nodal officers on disaster-related measures.

Structure:

• Headed by the Relief Commissioner.
• Composed of senior officers from various ministries and departments.
• Meets at least twice a year or as needed.

Focus:

• Primarily focuses on the coordination and review of ongoing disaster preparedness and relief measures at a central and state level.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

Responsibilities:

1. Policy and Guidelines: Established by the Disaster Management Act, 2005, NDMA lays down policies, plans, and guidelines for disaster management.
2. Apex Body: As the apex body, it oversees disaster management policies and ensures coordination for prevention, mitigation, response, and capacity building at national and state levels.
3. International Support: Provides support for international disaster relief as needed.
4. Risk Atlas & Decision Support: Developed a Web-Based Dynamic Composite Risk Atlas & Decision Support System (Web DCRA&DSS) for forecasting cyclone impacts.
5. G20 Initiatives: Spearheaded the formation of a G20 Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) during India’s G-20 Presidency in 2023.
6. Monitoring Progress: Utilizes the National Disaster Management Information System (NDMIS) to monitor progress on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR).

Structure:

• Chaired by the Prime Minister of India.
• Operates as a high-level body responsible for overarching policy and strategic decisions.

Focus:

• NDMA is responsible for setting national policies and guidelines for disaster management, overseeing implementation, and integrating international frameworks like the Sendai Framework, Paris Agreement, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its strategy.

Key Differences

• Scope and Focus: CMG focuses on operational coordination and review at the national and state levels, while NDMA is responsible for policy-making, strategic oversight, and international coordination.
• Role and Authority: CMG operates under the direction of the Relief Commissioner and handles practical coordination tasks, whereas NDMA, led by the Prime Minister, has a broader strategic mandate with an emphasis on policy, planning, and international collaboration.
• Meeting Frequency: CMG meets at least twice a year or as required, while NDMA operates continuously to develop and oversee disaster management policies and guidelines.