Toxic Liquor Claims Lives in Siwan and Saran

Bihar DGP Alok Raj Confirms 24 Deaths Due to Toxic Alcohol; Strict Action Underway

Patna: Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Alok Raj has confirmed that 24 people have died after consuming contaminated alcohol in the state. The fatalities include 20 from Siwan district and 4 from Saran district. The worst-hit areas are Bhagwanpur Bazaar in Siwan and Mashrak in Saran, where several people have been hospitalized in critical condition.

“The state government is taking this incident very seriously,” DGP Raj said. He assured the public that Bihar police are actively responding to the situation. Senior police officials, including the Superintendent of Police (SP) and Deputy Inspector General (DIG), visited the affected areas immediately after the deaths were reported. “They have questioned suspicious individuals and taken them into custody for further investigation,” he added.

Saran, Bihar: Five people have lost their lives in Saran district due to the consumption of illegal liquor, which is suspected to be industrial alcohol. Saran Superintendent of Police (SP) Kumar Ashish stated that the police are investigating the source of the alcohol. “It is reported that the liquor was industrial alcohol, and we are probing the connections,” he said.

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In response to the tragedy, several police personnel have faced disciplinary action. “Beat police officers have been suspended. The SHO and other officers are being questioned, and if their responses are found unsatisfactory, further action will be taken,” SP Ashish added.

To tackle the illegal liquor trade, the district police have launched a major crackdown. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed, and within the last 24 hours, police have conducted 250 raids, seizing 1,650 liters of illegal liquor. So far, 37 people have been arrested, and FIRs have been lodged against eight known individuals and several unknown persons.

The scourge of toxic liquor has once again wreaked havoc in the prohibition-bound state of Bihar. The death toll continues to rise in Siwan and Saran districts, with more than 30 confirmed deaths so far. The official count of fatalities, as confirmed by the district administrations of Siwan and Saran, currently stands at 25, with 20 deaths in Siwan and 5 in Saran. Additionally, 72 individuals are reported to be in critical condition, many of whom have lost their eyesight.

Tragedy Strikes Families

In one heart-wrenching account, the nephew of one of the victims shared how his uncle had consumed the toxic liquor on Tuesday. By Wednesday morning, his uncle woke up complaining of blindness. “He said he couldn’t see anything,” the nephew recounted. The family rushed him to the Community Health Center (CHC) in Mashrakh, from where he was referred to the district hospital. Tragically, the man died on the way to the hospital.

This incident is only one of many such cases in Siwan and Saran, where numerous families are mourning the loss of their loved ones. The death toll from the tainted liquor continues to rise, with several households in the region plunged into grief and despair.

Rising Death Toll and Widespread Panic

The government has confirmed that over 30 people have died due to the consumption of illicit, poisonous alcohol, with unofficial numbers possibly being even higher. In Siwan alone, 63 individuals have been hospitalized in critical condition, with another 10 from Saran district being treated in a similarly precarious state. Among those affected, many have suffered severe health consequences, including permanent blindness.

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According to local authorities, the victims had consumed the toxic liquor on Tuesday evening. By around 9 PM, many of them started experiencing symptoms, including stomach pain, vomiting, and severe headaches. Alarmed, families rushed the victims to local health centers, but by then, it was too late for many.

The first confirmed death occurred late on Tuesday night when Arvind Singh, one of the victims, succumbed to the effects of the poisonous alcohol. His family, in shock and fearing legal consequences, conducted his last rites immediately without informing the authorities. By Wednesday morning, the death toll had escalated further, with four more bodies being sent to Siwan district hospital for post-mortem.

Loss of Vision and Severe Health Consequences

One of the most alarming effects of the toxic liquor is the loss of vision in many of the affected individuals. Several survivors of the tragedy have lost their eyesight, further adding to the severity of the disaster. Local doctors and hospital staff are working tirelessly to treat the victims, but the severity of their condition makes recovery uncertain for many.

Government Response: SIT Formed, Two Policemen Suspended

In response to the rising death toll and the public outcry, the Bihar government has taken swift action. The district administration of Saran has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident and trace the source of the toxic alcohol. Additionally, two police officers have been suspended for their failure to prevent the illicit sale of alcohol in the region.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed his deep concern over the tragic incident. Addressing the growing political uproar, Kumar instructed the Prohibition, Excise, and Registration Department officials to visit the site and conduct a thorough investigation. The Chief Minister also directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to personally visit the affected areas, oversee the investigation, and ensure strict action is taken against those responsible.

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Nitish Kumar, who has been a strong advocate of prohibition in Bihar, reiterated his government’s commitment to cracking down on illegal liquor operations. He appealed to the people of Bihar, urging them to refrain from consuming illicit alcohol and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities. “We will leave no stone unturned in bringing the culprits to justice,” the Chief Minister stated, vowing strict action against those responsible for the tragedy.

Prohibition in Bihar and the Ongoing Battle Against Illegal Liquor

Bihar has been a dry state since the implementation of the prohibition law in April 2016. Despite this, the state has witnessed several instances of deaths caused by the consumption of illicit liquor. The ongoing black market for illegal alcohol has proven to be a persistent challenge for law enforcement agencies in the state.

While the government has intensified its efforts to curb the illicit liquor trade, including frequent raids and crackdowns, tragedies like the one in Siwan and Saran continue to occur. The toxic liquor incident has reignited the debate on the effectiveness of the prohibition policy, with critics questioning whether it has driven the alcohol trade further underground.

As investigations continue and more arrests are made, the families of the victims wait for justice, while the state of Bihar grapples with the aftermath of yet another toxic liquor tragedy.

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