Indians among 23 dead in Kuwait after consuming illicit liquor - Toll likely to go up
| Hundred and sixty migrants - all Asians- were hospitalised. Among them, 21 have lost their vision, 51 required emergency kidney dialysis and 31 were placed on mechanical ventilators due to respiratory failure.
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KUWAIT CITY, Aug 15: A devastating wave of liquor poisoning has claimed the lives of at least 23 people since last Saturday in Kuwait with Indian nationals among the victims, according to the country’s Ministry of Health and the Indian Embassy in Kuwait. Most of the Indian victims were from Kerala.
The Embassy of India in Kuwait confirmed that around 40 Indian nationals are
among the 160 hospitalized. Victims include individuals from Kerala, Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. One confirmed fatality is Sachin (31), a native
of Kannur, Kerala.
“There have been some fatalities, some are in critical condition while others
are recovering,” the embassy said in a statement posted on X.
The embassy has launched a helpline (+965-65501587) for families seeking information
and is coordinating with Kuwaiti health authorities to ensure proper medical
care.
As of Wednesday, 160 people — all of Asian nationalities — were hospitalized
since Saturday with symptoms of severe poisoning after consuming illicit liquor.
Among them, 21 people have gone blind and 51 required emergency kidney dialysis,
while 31 were placed on mechanical ventilators due to respiratory failure.
The tragedy unfolded over the weekend, when dozens of individuals consumed
illicitly brewed alcohol believed to be contaminated with methanol — a toxic
industrial chemical.
Victims reportedly purchased the liquor from Block 4 in Al-Shuyoukh, a known
hotspot for black-market alcohol.
Migrant workers: Most of the affected individuals are believed to be
migrant workers from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka — communities that
form a significant portion of Kuwait’s expatriate labour force. Unconfirmed
reports suggest that some of the deceased may be Keralites and Tamilians, although
official nationalities have not yet been disclosed.
Kuwaiti authorities have launched a full-scale investigation to trace the source
of the toxic brew. No arrests have been made yet.
Kuwait had enforced a strict ban on alcohol imports since 1964 and criminalized
its consumption in the 1980s. Despite this, illegal alcohol production persists,
often in hidden facilities that lack any safety oversight.
Meanwhile, public outrage is mounting, with calls for stricter enforcement
and better protection for migrant workers. Health experts are urging immediate
awareness campaigns about the dangers of consuming illicit liquor.
What is methanol poisoning: A silent killer, methanol is a highly toxic
substance often used in industrial applications. Unlike ethanol — the alcohol
found in beverages — methanol can cause permanent blindness, organ failure,
and death even in small quantities. Bootleg liquor producers sometimes use methanol
to increase potency or reduce costs, but its consumption is extremely dangerous.
Methanol is a colourless, odourless alcohol used in industrial applications.
Unlike ethanol (found in beverages), methanol is highly toxic and can cause:
Permanent blindness; Kidney failure; Respiratory collapse; Death.
Symptoms of methanol poisoning: Symptoms typically appear within 2–12
hours of ingestion. They are: Headache; Vomiting; Blurred Vision; Seizures;
and, Coma.
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