AT LEAST 14 people died and 48 were hospitalised in Bihar after consuming spurious liquor. These deaths were reported from Lakshmipur, Paharpur, and Harsiddhi blocks of Motihari, around 150 kilometres northwest of the state capital Patna in the latest addition to the series of death in the Bihar hooch tragedy.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar when asked to comment on the matter said, "It is a sad incident. I have asked for all information on it."
District Magistrate of Motihari, Saurabh Jorwal has ordered an inquiry into the matter. The sub-divisional officers of Sadar and Areraj have been asked to go to the respective villages and submit an investigation report.
Also, a team of health experts was sent to the affected villages for further inspection and treatment of the people who are sick. The said team has been formed under the leadership of Product Superintendent to investigate the matter of the consumption of liquor. According to officials, raids are going on in the district for information on the origin of liquor.
In Motihari, 'Six people have died and 10 people including two critically admitted to hospital. Seven people arrested in the case till now, " said Jayant Kant, DIG, Champaran Range on deaths allegedly due to consuming spurious liquor.
Meanwhile, according to the officials, in the last 24 hours, four people died in Turkaulia, five in Sugauli, two in Paharpur and three in Harsiddhi in the district under suspicious circumstances.
On the same row, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has been in the crosshairs with the opposition party in the state. Recently, BJP blamed JDU-led government for their carelessness in the matter.
Previously, Nitish Kumar had snapped at the opposition MLAs who targeted the government over prohibition in the state. "If someone consumes liquor, they will die - the example is before us. This should be condoled, those places should be visited and people be explained," Nitish Kumar had said.
"Even when there was no liquor ban here, people died due to spurious liquor - even in other states. People should be alert. As there is a liquor ban here, something spurious will be sold, due to which people die. Liquor is bad and shouldn't be consumed," he said in the state assembly.