Yet another Hooch tragedy strikes dry Bihar; 25 killed

New Delhi: At least 25 people died after consuming spurious liquor in Siwan and Saran districts of Bihar, DGP Alok Raj said on Thursday.

As per locals, a similar number of people are battling for life in different hospitals of the state. Raj said that while Siwan accounted for 20 fatalities, five deaths have been reported from Saran, even as 12 people have been arrested for allegedly selling spurious liquor.

Bihar CM and JDU chief Nitish Kumar has instructed DGP to take stringent action against those involved in the trade of spurious liquor. He has directed prohibition and excise secretary Vinod Gunjiyal and Bihar Police ADG (prohibition) to visit the areas and investigate the matter.


Bihar has been under complete prohibition since April 2016.

Bihar assembly's Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav hit out at Kumar over the incident. "Several people have been killed due to spurious liquor consumption... Dozens have lost their eyesight. Liquor trade has been banned in Bihar but due to the nexus among ruling party leaders, police and mafia, liquor is available everywhere in the state," he told ET.

Bihar Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh demanded that the families of the deceased should get ₹25 lakh, those who lost their eyesight should get ₹15 lakh and a monthly compensation of ₹10,000 as a lifelong alimony. "In the state where liquor ban is in force, people are not able to save themselves from poisonous liquor, the state administration is responsible for this," Singh told ET.

"It is an unfortunate incident. The priority of our government is to provide the best treatment to those in hospitals. Hospitals in nearby districts have also been kept ready for offering treatment. CM Nitish Kumar himself has reviewed the situation," JDU spokesman Rajeev Ranjan told ET.