Assam hooch tragedy: 46 people die in two separate incidents, many hospitalised

According to the reports, at least 35 people have died and more than 25 others hospitalised after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in a tea garden in Assam’s Golaghat district.

The incident took place at Halmira tea garden area, about five kilometres from the district headquarters.

According to the reports, the victims are from Halmira tea garden area and they were admitted at hospital after becoming ill since Thursday evening.

Locals said that, at least 62 persons mostly tea garden labourers, fell critically ill after consuming hooch. They were admitted to hospital.

On Thursday evening, four critically ill women died at hospital and on Friday, 31 more deaths were reported.

Meanwhile, 25 persons are presently admitted at hospital in Golaghat and Jorhat and their treatments are going on.

On the other hand, 11 more persons have been died at Borhola Titabor area in Jorhat district after consuming spurious liquor.

The victims fell ill after consuming poisonous alcohol and they were immediately rushed to hospital.

Locals alleged that, the spurious liquor have been supplied from outside and some excise department personnel are also involved with it.

“Several tea garden labourers have died after consuming spurious liquor. Locals alleged that, these liquor were supplied from outside. The government, excise department always said that, they are trying to ban illicit liquor, but it didn’t,” a local resident said.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has ordered an inquiry into the tragedy.

While expressing concern over the deaths of people including women, Sonowal has instituted a one man inquiry and asked Upper Assam Division Commissioner Julie Sonowal to inquire into the corollaries of events leading to the death of people.

The modus operandi of the inquiry will be study of the circumstances and other related causative factors and prepare a report and submit the same to the government.

Following the Assam CM directive, Minister Topon Kumar Gogoi, MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa and MLA Mrinal Saikia on Friday evening reached at the spot and assessed the situation.

On the other hand, the state excise department has suspended two department officers and initiated a departmental probe.

“The state excise department has suspended two department officers following direction of excise minister Parimal Suklabaidya. The minister has also asked the Additional Commissioner of Excise and three other top officials to rush to the area and initiated an inquiry. The minister asked the probe committee to submit its report within three days,” Sailen Pandey said.

(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)