Bihar Hooch Tragedy: Death Toll rises to 29 in Motihari, Government to provide Rs 4 Lakhs To Kin Of Deceased

• Image Credit: Internet

• Apr 18, 2023 | Kabir Chakraborty

CM Nitish Kumar stated that his administration will grant Rs 4 lakhs to the relatives of the deceased if they affirm in writing that they support the state's alcohol ban. color:black">

color:black">Digital Desk: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar stated on Monday
that the government will provide Rs 4 lakhs to the kin of those who died in a
suspected hooch disaster in Bihar's Motihari (East Champaran district). The
death toll has risen to 29, according to Bihar Police on Tuesday. According to
officials, the deaths occurred in the districts of Turkauliya, Harsiddhi,
Sugauli, and Paharpur. In the previous 36 hours, the Motihari police have
caught 76 spirits smugglers.

color:black">"On 14 April 2023, information was received that some people
died under suspicious circumstances in Harsiddhi, Sugauli, Paharpur,
Turkauliya, and Raghunathpur police station areas in Motihari district."
According to locals, these folks perished as a result of drinking fake spirits.
The district administration undertook a door-to-door inspection in the impacted
regions as soon as this information was received," Bihar Police said in a
statement on Sunday.

color:black">It stated that the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Champaran
region; Bettiah, District Magistrate; and Superintendent of Police, Motihari
visited all hospitals and evaluated the conditions of the patients. So far, 22
people have died, with 6 of them undergoing postmortem examinations.

According to the police, a
total of 15 people are being treated at Motihari Sadar Hospital in normal
condition, and 14 people are being treated in a private hospital in serious
condition.

color:black">Raids were carried out in order to seize illegal spirits and
apprehend the criminals involved.

"In the course of
this raid, the Motihari police have arrested 76 spirits smugglers in the last
36 hours, 25 of whom were arrested in the affected areas, and a total of 736.5
litres of spirits and 66 litres of spirit have been recovered." 6110
litres of paas (semi-finished liquor) were disposed of. Aside from that, the
concerned sub-divisional police will take measures against negligent police
officials," according to the police statement.

CM Nitish
Kumar on the Tragedy

color:black">CM Nitish Kumar stated that his administration will grant Rs 4
lakhs to the relatives of the deceased if they affirm in writing that they
support the state's alcohol ban.

color:black">"This is a tragic incident." "We will provide Rs 4
lakhs to the families of the deceased from the CM relief fund, but they must
provide in writing that they support the state's alcohol ban and are against
drinking alcohol," he stated, according to news agency ANI.

"If the family
members of those who died after consuming spurious liquor apply to the
government, we will compensate them with Rs 4 lakhs from the CM Relief
Fund," he added.

color:black">Earlier, in response to Motihari's alleged hooch disaster, Bihar
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar stated on Saturday, "I have been maintaining
that liquor is bad and should not be consumed." I've asked officials to
take tough measures against individuals who break the law."

According to PTI, Bihar
BJP President Samrat Choudhary blamed the Nitish Kumar-led government for the
fatalities, saying, "The CM should stop dreaming about becoming Prime
Minister and instead focus on the state." The state government is to blame
for this catastrophe... we demand reparations for the families of those killed
in the incident."

color:black">The Nitish Kumar government outlawed the sale and drinking of
alcohol in Bihar in April 2016. Despite the ongoing crackdown on bootleggers,
incidences of spirits smuggling continue to be recorded from the state.

In the most recent
significant hooch tragedy, which occurred in December 2022, dozens of people
died after swallowing fake spirits in the Saran district.

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