Bihar: On Saturday, the death toll in the Bihar hooch tragedy grew to 38, despite Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s call for a new public awareness campaign against booze consumption in the dry state. In connection with the sale of illegal booze, police have made arrests and negligent authorities have been punished. There have been 15 deaths in Bettiah, 11 in Gopalganj, and six apiece in Muzaffarpur and Hajipur thus far.
Officials in the West Champaran and Gopalganj districts, on the other hand, said that just 25 deaths may be linked to the drinking of spurious liquor. Some patients are being treated at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Bettiah town, according to Champaran Range DIG Pranav Kumar Pravin.
District magistrate Nawal Kishore Chaudhary verified 17 deaths in Gopalganj, but stated only 11 of them could be attributed to the intake of illegal liquor. Three village people were cremated before a post-mortem examination. “Family members of another three deceased refused a post-mortem claiming that deaths were on account of natural causes,” he said.
Inspector General of Police Ranjan Kumar, the incharge of the Mohammadpur police station, and a chowkidar have been suspended, according to Anand Kumar, and three alleged vendors have been detained. He also stated that raids resulted in the recovery of 100 litres of spurious liquor.
In Patna, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said strong punishment would be taken against anyone found guilty, although he expressed disappointment that people continue to eat “galat cheez” (wrong thing) during festivals.