At least nine die after consuming sanitizers in Andhra Pradesh's Prakasam district

VIJAYAWADA: Atleast nine persons died after consuming sanitizers at Kurichedu village in Prakasam district on Friday. According to district police, the victims are aged between 35 to 65 and most of them happen to be beggars.
Cops said that initially two persons died on Wednesday and followed by that three more died on Thursday midnight and finally four more died on Friday morning. Cops soon seized sanitizers from local pharmacy shops and have sent them to lab to check its composition.
Cops point out that all of them were addicted to alcohol and with no money and access to liquor they tried to dilute the sanitizers with water and consumed it.
Overall, 20 persons have said to be randomly consuming sanitizers in the same village and officials fear that the death toll night increase in the days to come. A pall of gloom descended at the village as many family members prepare to conduct funeral for the deceased persons.
The state government had increased the excise duty on liquor with an additional 75% during the lockdown period and also reduced the number of liquor outlets in the state to discourage drinking.