Assam hooch tragedy toll touches 155
Guwahati, Feb 25 (UNI/IBNS) The death toll in Assam hooch tragedy has reached 155, with nearly 100 deaths reported from worst-hit Golaghat district, with the toll on the rise for the fifth day today since the first deaths were reported.
Senior state Cabinet Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said here today that 95 deaths, including 66 males, have been reported from Golaghat district, while 60 deaths, including 43 male, have been confirmed from Jorhat district.
Another 97 people are still hospitalized in Golaghat and 171 in Jorhat, he added.
In worst-affected Golaghat district, 26 people have been arrested in connection with the incident, while in Jorhat, the number of arrests is eight.
Following the incident, the Excise department has intensified it's drive against illicit spurious liquor across the state.
The state government has announced ex-gratia of Rs two lakh to families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those hospitalised.
Multiple high level enquiries have also started into the incidents and samples of spurious liquor collected and sent for forensic test.
The first deaths were reported from Halmira tea estate in Golaghat district on February 21 night.
The deaths have been allegedly caused by consuming spurious illegal distilled liquor, locally called 'sulai'.
Image: UNI
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