One killed after consuming spurious liquor in Odisha’s Ganjam district: Police

He was among the 17 people who were admitted to hospital after consuming country liquor sold near Moundpur on Monday evening

Published on: Aug 21, 2024, 12:31:10 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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One person died after consuming spurious liquor in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Wednesday morning, officials said.

The deceased person was undergoing treatment at Berhampur-based MKCG Medical College and Hospital.

He was among the 17 people who were admitted to hospital after consuming country liquor sold near Moundpur on Monday evening.

Meanwhile, the condition of three others remains critical, and the trio has been kept under observation in the ICU, with the remaining 13 people still in the hospital.

The villagers, after finishing their cultivation work, gathered in Maundpur and consumed liquor sold by a local country liquor seller.

Also Read: Kallakurichi hooch tragedy reignites debate over prohibition in Tamil Nadu

Family members of the victims claimed that the liquor was illicitly brewed in a forest near Bhalughai and sold in nearby areas.

Ganjam collector Dibyajyoti Parida, who visited the patients, said that the liquor is likely to have been laced with some spurious substances.

Excise commissioner Narasingha Bhol, who visited the affected area, said liquor samples have been collected for laboratory testing.

“A joint action team comprising police and excise officials will be formed to intensify raids on illegal liquor operations in the district,” he said.

So far, five persons have been arrested while 55 litres of country liquor have been seized by the Excise department officials.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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