In a shocking development, as many as 19 people in six villages have so far reportedly died after consuming suspected illicit liquor in the East Champaran district of Bihar, while more than three dozen people are still said to be hospitalized and being treated for the same, since Friday.
The tragedy occurred after a few locals from the Lakshmipur village under Turkauliya police station limits were rushed to different hospitals after consuming suspected illicit liquor; it’s been reported that at least 4 people have died in Turkaulia, while the tragedy so far has taken 5 lives in the nearby Sagauli police station limits, at least 3 deaths have so far been reported from Harsiddhi police station limits as well.
Meanwhile, where the local media has claimed that more than three dozen people are still being treated in different hospitals of the region, the administration, on the other hand, has so far confirmed only six deaths in the latest hooch tragedy and claimed that only 10 people are being treated.
Speaking to the media, DIG Champaran range Jayant Kant said that “as many as Six people have died and 10 people are admitted to hospital after consuming spurious liquor in Motihari on Saturday. As many as 7 people have so far been arrested in connection with the tragedy, added DIG Kant.”
On the other hand, while reacting to the tragedy, chief minister Nitish Kumar termed it a sad incident and asked for all the information related to it. It is speculated that the tragedy occurred after spurious liquor was distributed to a few local traders leading to the death of many from different villages in the district.
It is to be noted that the latest tragedy is the third in the series since last year, as more than 50 people died in December 2022 after consuming spurious liquor under Masrakh police station limits and the nearby region in Saran district, while as many as 5 people had also lost their lives in the adjoining Siwan district after consuming illicit liquor.
In a similar incident in January this year, a total of five people also lost their lives after consuming spurious liquor in Bala village of Siwan. It is to be noted that the JDU-RJD-led government has been on target of the opposition over the sale of illicit liquor in the state lately after back-to-back hooch tragedies in the state have so far claimed more than five dozen lives in the last year alone.
