Four people died while another was admitted to hospital in critical condition after consuming illicit liquor in Ghaziabad on Tuesday. The incident took place at Khoda residential locality of Ghaziabad bordering the national Capital.
The deceased were identified as Sandeep (18), Avneesh (25), Ashok Kumar (45), and Ravinder who died during treatment in the hospital. The fifth victim, identified as Shri Niwas, is said to be critical. Sandeep and Avneesh were relatives and the postmortem of all the victims is yet to be conducted.
According to police, the incident came to light in the wee hours of Tuesday when an anonymous caller informed the police that several persons fell sick after consuming illicit liquor allegedly brought from an unauthorised vend at a park in the locality.
After the report, senior police and civil officers -- including SP City, SSP and District Magistrate, rushed to the spot and sent the victims to nearby Lal Bahadur Sashtri Hospital in Delhi.
SP City Akash Tomar said that the caller said that they all consumed the liquor till midnight.
Meanwhile, the police conducted search in the locality to find out those who have consumed the illicit liquor to facilitate them in providing medical aid.
Police said that consumption of illicit liquor is quite common in this slum locality.
Following the incident, SSP HN Singh suspended four police men SHO Dhruv Bhushan Dubey, area police post incharge Ram Samajh Rana and two beat constables Rajvir Singh and Mohd Asgari.
Rescue operation and door to door search is being made by the police to track all vicitims in the area, said a police officer.