KOCHI: Three decades after the Vypeen hooch tragedy occurred, one of the very few survivors of the tragedy died at Malippuram in Vypeen on Tuesday.
Bhaskaran alias Rainbow Bhaskaran, 78, who died on Tuesday had lost his eye sight in the tragedy.
Bhaskaran was running a studio called Rainbow at the time of the Vypeen hooch tragedy. He was an acclaimed artiste and a photographer in Vypeen. Bhaskaran is survived by wife Leela, daughter Suchithra and soninlaw Joshy. The Vypeen hooch tragedy which claimed lives of 77 people occurred on September 2, 1982. The victims were people who drank poisoned liquor from arrack outlets in Njarackal, Elamkunnapuzha, Malipuram and Nayarambalam in the island on an Onam day.
According to reports, about fifty nine people died in the first two days, while the rest died in the following days.
With only minimal hospital facilities in Vypeen, people who were affected were brought to Ernakulam for treatment. Many were saved after they were forcibly fed alcohol to neutralise the poison inside.
