Suspected hooch claims three lives, several fall ill in Bihar

At least two dozen villagers have also fallen ill and admitted to different hospitals in Chhapra, district headquarter of Saran and Patna. “Nine of them are critical and over 10 have lost their eye sights”, a villager said.

At least three people died and several others fell critically ill allegedly after consuming spurious liquor in two villages under Maker and Bheldi police stations of Saran district. Bihar has been declared a dry State since April 2016.

Two people Kamal Mahto, 65 and Chandan Mahto, 30 died in Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) while, one person Sakaldeep Mahto was brought dead to the hospital from Sonho-Bhatha village of the district.

At least two dozen villagers have also fallen ill and admitted to different hospitals in Chhapra, district headquarter of Saran and Patna. “Nine of them are critical and over 10 have lost their eye sights”, a villager said.

The villagers of Nonia Toli of Phulwaria panchayat under Maker police station and Sanho-Bhatha under Bheldi police station are said to have consumed spurious liquor during Nag Panchami celebrations recently and later fell ill, lost eye sights and three of them died thereafter.

“My father-in-law had consumed liquor which is readily available in the village. Several villagers too had consumed liquor and later developed health complications such as vomiting and losing eye sight. My Father-in-law died while being taken to PMCH”, Mithilesh Mahto told media persons.

“A team of doctors and paramedical staff has been sent to the village to ascertain the cause of deaths”, Saran District Magistrate Rajesh Meena said. “Senior police officials are camping at villages and we’ve begun an investigation into the incident”, said Saran Superintendent of Police Santosh Kumar.

Meanwhile, local Saran police have arrested a liquor trader Vishwakarma Mahto and some others in the case. Earlier on August 2 too, two persons had died allegedly after consuming spurious liquor at Ramdaspur village under Bhorha panchayat in the same Saran district.