Hooch kills again in 'dry' Bihar: 14 dead

PATNA: At least 14 people died and over two dozen had been taken ill since Friday evening after allegedly having spurious liquor in Bihar's East Champaran, in what is seen as the latest addition to a series of more than 160 hooch deaths in the dry state since January last year. The DM said they died under "mysterious circumstances". Police have arrested 10 people.
Police arrested the 10 people on the charge of smuggling liquor in pouches into a village and samples of the alcohol have been sent for a lab test, district magistrate Saurabh Jorwal said.

He said 14 people died under "mysterious circumstances" in Turkaulia, Harsiddhi, Sugauli and Paharpur blocks. "Family members cremated the bodies of 11 in a hurry, while the autopsy of three who died at government health facilities were conducted Saturday morning."
Sources said the toll may increase as around 25 people of Laxmipur village were undergoing treatment at different health facilities. A team from the forensic science laboratory was collecting evidence from the area.
A police team led by SP Kantesh Kumar Mishra was investigating the case. Police seized alcohol and spirits during raids in Turkaulia. Mishra said the viscera report, along with the autopsy report, will reveal the cause of death. The family members of the deceased refused comments, he said.
The 14 people died after complaining of nausea, disorientation, stomach ache, breathlessness and loss of vision and consciousness, considered all typical side-effects of adulterated liquor.
Gyaneshwar, a local, alleged that all of them had consumed liquor on Thursday after harvesting the wheat crop. "Desi sharab (local alcohol) was brought by one Jatta, who died after his health deteriorated," he said. Police in Turkaulia said, quoting locals, that some people had brewed moonshine and drank it. Pramod Shah, a resident of Gai Ghat, who was taken to hospital by the medical team after he complained of breathlessness, told reporters that he drank four pouches of liquor while his partner had three.
The CID (excise department) will conduct an investigation and legal action will be taken, police sources said.
The state government had banned sale and consumption of alcohol in 2016.