Patna: Despite a liquor ban in Bihar, poisonous alcohol led to a tragic outbreak of deaths in the Siwan and Chhapra regions. Twenty people died under suspicious circumstances.
Authorities fear that the death toll might rise. Relatives of the deceased claimed that they consumed toxic liquor two days before their deaths.
Two lose eyesight
In addition to the fatalities, over a dozen others fell ill, with reports indicating that two persons lost their eyesight. They were treated at various hospitals. Since the liquor ban was implemented in 2016, such incidents involving poisonous liquor continued to occur.
Following the deaths, the Siwan superintendent of police suspended a station in-charge and two outposts in-charges due to the seriousness of the situation. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the matter, and nine people were arrested in connection with the case.
Siwan police also established a helpline, encouraging residents to report any information related to the incident. Meanwhile, the health department was put on high alert to manage the ongoing treatment of the sick.
Deaths due to spurious liquor
The suspicious deaths were first reported on Tuesday and Wednesday, with two deaths in Ibrahimpur village of the Masrakh police station area in Saran district. By late evening, more cases emerged, creating panic in nearby Siwan district as well. Police officials arrived in the affected areas to gather information.
According to reports, seven people died in Siwan district on Tuesday, while one person in Saran district also succumbed to the illness. This situation escalated after a fish party was held in the region, where alcohol was consumed. Following the incident, many people began to experience severe health issues, leading to hospitalizations.
