HYDERABAD: One person died and at least 100 people fell sick on Saturday after they consumed adulterated toddy in 11 villages of Vikarabad district. Two of them, who were critical, were shifted to Hyderabad for better treatment.
People of Vikarabad and Nawabpet mandals were among those affected and rushed to hospitals. P Ramulu (65), who belonged to Chittigidda village in Nawabpet mandal, consumed the toddy on Friday and took ill. He succumbed a day later. By the end of Saturday, 57 people were admitted to hospitals, including 49 in the government area hospital, four in Mahaveer Hospital and two in Sai Dental Hospital in Vikarabad, officials said.
Initially, it was speculated that people were feeling sick because of some mysterious illness. Several people went into convulsions and fell unconscious. Later, it became clear that all of them, including men, women and youth, had consumed the adulterated toddy. The spurious toddy was learnt to have been supplied from Chittigidda to Erravalli and other villages.
Samples sent for analysis
Excise officials collected the samples of the spurious toddy from the villages and sent them for analysis. District collector Pausumi Basu said arrangements have been made to shift seriously ill patients to hospitals in Vikarabad and Hyderabad. “We kept ambulances ready to shift patients to Hyderabad if necessary,” she said.
She said some of the villagers have recovered and left for their homes. Basu, who visited Vikarabad primary healthcare centre, said around 35 patients were admitted to the hospitals.