8 more die as victims of hooch tragedy in India continues to rise

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI (AA) – The death toll in the hooch tragedy in the eastern Indian state of Bihar has risen to 30, with officials revealing on Saturday that eight more people died after consuming spurious liquor in other districts of the state where the sale and consumption of alcohol are strictly outlawed.

Saran has had the highest number of fatalities since the state banned the sale and consumption of liquor in April 2016.

Saran Civil Surgeon Dr. Sagar Dulal Sinha confirmed to Anadolu Agency that 30 people have died as a result of drinking spurious liquor in the Saran district.

Though officials in Saran district confirm the deaths of 30 people after drinking booze on Tuesday, unconfirmed reports claim that at least 70 people died after consuming illicitly brewed homemade liquor.

Officials from the Saran district administration told Anadolu Agency, on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media, that family members of many affected people are avoiding disclosing that their relatives had consumed alcohol for fear of repercussions from the administration.

They said they are being treated at home or in hospitals in other districts.

Officials reported that at least eight other people died for the same reason in the neighboring districts of Siwan and Begusarai, but they are unsure whether the deceased were victims of the same hooch tragedy or consumed spurious liquor independently.

It is thought that many people died in Siwan because they did not receive prompt care and instead relied on home cures, although their conditions worsened. Some of them made it to hospitals before it was too late.

According to Siwan Sub-Divisional Magistrate Sanjay Kumar, an investigation has been launched against people involved in the sale and purchase of liquor in the region.

Meanwhile, the Aryavarta Mahasabha Foundation, a private company, filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Friday, requesting an impartial investigation into the Saran tragedy by a special investigation team.

The petitioner has appealed to the apex court to order the state government to compensate the victims' families adequately.

Earlier, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar dismissed the possibility of compensating the families of those who died as a result of consuming toxic liquor.

Kumar has faced severe criticism from opposing parties for perceived leniency in enforcing alcohol prohibition in the state.

Last week, local media reported the deaths of 11 people in the same district as a result of drinking spurious liquor.

According to official figures, state law enforcement agencies recovered four million liters of bootleg alcohol this year and registered more than 138,000 cases.