Chennai, June 19 (Reporter) At least 13 people died and several others admitted to various hospitals after they allegedly consumed spurious liquor at Karunapuram village in Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. The deceased included at least three women, reports said. The casualty figures were announced by Tamil Nadu PWD Minister E V Velu, while talking to reporters tonight after visiting those injured in the hospitals along with Health Minister Ma.Subramaniam at Kallakurichi. He said so far 13 people have died and the deaths have caused due to presence of methanol in the spurious liquor, sold in sachets, consumed by them. Reports said nearly 30 people were admitted to various hospitals, but media reports and TV channels say that more than 70 were admitted. When contacted by UNI at the police headquarters here, the officials said the reports received from the districts and hospitals are being compiled. Mr Velu also said that nine people were in critical condition at Kallakurichi government hospital, while the condition of the rest of those were stable and they will recover soon. Stating that the doctors have assured that the nine critical patients will be cured, he said the state government will never encourage illicit liquor menace and Chief Minister M.K.Stalin has immediately taken action against those involved in it. He also blamed the lethargic attitude of the police officials in dealing with the issue that led to such incidents and the Chief Minister had immediately swung into action by taking action against them. "We are not justifying this incident", Mr Velu said, adding such incidents had been happening over a period of time and successive governments have been taking and had taken action regularly. The ruling DMk will never allow such incidents to recur and all steps will be taken to prevent it. He also said the bodies of the victims will be handed over to their families after autopsy. Only last year, at least 23 people had died in twin hooch tragedies in nearby Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts. According to reports over 66 people are undergoing treatment in hospitals. Of them, 17 have been referred to Jipmer in Puducherry, eight to Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital in Salem and four to Villupuram Medical College Hospital. Preliminary investigations revealed that those admitted were affected due to methanol poisoning. The deaths were reported from Karunapuram, within the limits of the Kallakurichi town police station. According to sources, the victims, mostly daily wage labourers and load men, had reportedly purchased the illicit liquor from a vendor in the area, who was arrested and 200 litres of spurious liquor were seized. Locals alleged that the sale of spurious liquor has been happening for nearly 3-4 years and no action has been initiated either by the police or the district administration, despite several complaints. One of the women, who had lost her breadwinner said, "My family runs with the money earned by my husband as a load man. Now he has spent that money in getting this adulterated liquor and died". "I don't know how to run my family with two children", she said...////...