Hooch tragedy: Distraught Saharanpur village mourns 10 deaths

MEERUT: Wailing and screaming have not stopped since Friday morning in Umahi Kota village of Saharanpur, which has seen 10 deaths. The feeling of helplessness is also writ large on the faces of village elders and women, who “somewhere failed” to save their kin from the addiction of the illicit liquor sourced from Khadar region. Out of the 46 hooch deaths in Saharanpur in the last two days, maximum 10 are from this village alone.
“The village is in the grip of liquor mafia having strong links with people in power. We have done everything possible to prevent our youths and men from consuming the poison. But, we have failed,” said Daya Ram, father of Tej Pal who is one of the dead.

Pintu (35), a liquor supplier to the village, was also among the dead. A physically-challenged man, he is survived by three children. It is said that Pintu brought the ill-fated liquor consignment to Umahi Kota village.

Surender, another resident of Umahi Kota who lost a cousin, said: “The count would have been much higher had it not been a thunderstorm on Thursday night. Many drunkards did not venture out to fetch their quota for the night. Otherwise, over 50 would have perished in Umahi alone.”

Just a few kms from Umahi Kota is Salempur village where six deaths were confirmed. In that village, Balwant Singh, 60, lost both his sons.

Balwant’s relative, Bhushan Singh, said: “On Friday morning, both the sons of Balwant were rushed to hospital. His elder son, Satyawan, 28, died on Friday morning. Then, in the evening, 24-yer-old Jhagru passed away. The liquor destroyed the entire family.”