NEW DELHI: At least 20 people were killed and several others fell ill on Saturday after consuming toxic liquor in Indian state of Bihar.
The deaths were reported from several areas of East Champaran (Motihari) district, about 151 km north of Patna, the capital city of Bihar.
Local media reported that a tank carrying spurious liquor was brought to Motihari and distributed among local traders, leading to the tragedy.
A special team of the Prohibition Unit from Patna has been despatched to Motihari to investigate the matter. The special team consists of five police officers, two DSPs and three inspectors.
Seven persons have been detained by the police as part of the investigation into the incident, a Bihar police headquarters statement said here.
“The district police are investigating the matter and trying to ascertain those involved in the illegal liquor trade. Excise department officials are also probing the incident,” the Bihar police report said.
Responding to the incident, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, “It is a sad incident. I have asked for all information on it.”
In 2016, the state government enacted the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, after massive protests by women and social activists to ban all types of alcohol in the state. In implementing this rule, Bihar became the second dry state in India after Gujarat—where India’s founding father Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s hometown Porbandar is located.
However, cases of illicit liquor consumption have been surging in the state. The opposition parties have been urging Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to ease the draconian liquor rule.
