Tiruppur: At least 40 people fell ill, and four were left in critical condition after allegedly consuming adulterated toddy in the Gundadam area of the district, police said on Sunday.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening when the victims, most of them local farm labourers, reportedly consumed fermented palm wine from an illegal outlet operating near a coconut grove. Soon after, they began experiencing severe vomiting, dizziness and fainting spells.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the toddy had been laced with a mix of sedative tablets, commonly used in psychiatric treatments, to enhance its intoxicating effect.

“Four individuals who were found unconscious were rushed to the Dharapuram Government Hospital and later shifted to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for specialised treatment. Their condition is stated to be stable but they remain under observation,” a senior police official said.

Following the incident, authorities launched a crackdown on illicit toddy production and sale in the Gundadam and Dharapuram regions. The Prohibition Enforcement Wing (PEW) has sealed multiple illegal outlets and collected samples of the suspected drink for forensic testing.

While the sale of unfermented ‘neera’ is allowed under regulated conditions in Tamil Nadu, fermented toddy remains banned. This has led to the proliferation of illegal vendors who often add harmful substances such as alprazolam or chloral hydrate to increase potency.

Further investigations into the incident are ongoing.