Methanol, a light, colourless chemical, is toxic when ingested and is illegally used in alcoholic drinks as a cheaper substitute for ethanol, the standard consumable form of alcohol.
In the latest hooch tragedy in the Majithia area of Amritsar district, 23 people have died so far and 10 others were hospitalised after allegedly consuming spurious liquor.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann met victims' families at Marari Kalan, offering Rs 10 lakh compensation to the deceased’s kin and assuring full coverage of the education expenses for the victims' children.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring urged the government to provide compensation to victims' families and demanded accountability for the deaths.
The victim’s blood sample was sent to a Pune-based laboratory for testing, the results of which, in December last year, confirmed that the death was due to methanol poisoning.
