4 dead, 98 critical after consuming spurious liquor in Assam

Four persons have died and 98 others, including 25 children, are battling for their lives after consuming illicit liquor in Jorhat district, police said on Wednesday.

Four persons have died and 98 others, including 25 children, are battling for their lives after consuming illicit liquor in Jorhat district, police said on Wednesday.

The victims, all tea garden labourers of Dholi Samaguri Tea Estate, complained of stomach ache and vomiting on Tuesday night after they consumed country liquor sold illegally inside the garden, Jorhat superintendent of police Amanjeet Kaur said.

The victims were initially taken to a local hospital and later referred to Jorhat Medical College Hospital (JMCH) where one person was declared brought dead and two others died during the night.

A woman died on Wednesday in the hospital. The condition of the remaining 98 persons was stated to be critical and they include 25 children below the age of 15 and 27 women, JMCH superintendent Nilutpal Bhattacharjee said.

Three persons have been arrested so far for allegedly selling country liquor without a license inside the garden and search is on to arrest some others, police said.