On 14 December 2022, an alcohol poisoning took place in Bihar, India.[1] The poisoning resulted in the death of 73 people.[2] The victims consumed hooch (spurious liquor), that is qualitatively different from the standard alcoholic products.[3] It is the highest death toll in Bihar, since liquor prohibition in state in 2016.[4]
| Venue | Bihar |
|---|---|
| Cause | poisoning from hooch |
| Deaths | 73 |
Background
editIn April 2016, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar enacted legislation banning the sale and consumption of alcohol in the Bihar. 21 million litres of liquor had been seized in the state till February 2022 since the prohibition. For violating the law, around 450,000 people have been arrested. Mostly, the poisoning incidents have been reported from rural areas, where denatured spirit's use has proliferated due to illegal manufacturing facilities.[5]
Incident
editAccording to police, relatives of those who were killed claimed that the victims died due to the consumption of poisonous liquor in the Doila and Yadu Mot villages of the Saran district.[6] The victims started vomiting after consuming the alcohol with people dying on the way to hospital. Many others died while being treated in hospital later. The tragedy took the lives of 73 people in total.[7]
Response
editChief Minister Nitish Kumar said that those who drink alcohol will die and no compensation will be given to the families of the deceased. Pointing out that Bihar is a state where alcohol prohibition has been in place since 2016, the Chief Minister asked people to be more cautious in this regard. The opposition protested against Nitish Kumar's stand in the assembly.[8]
References
edit- ^ Gandhi, Mohak (2022-12-31). "Bihar Hooch Tragedy: Delhi Police arrests mastermind behind liquor case in Bihar". NewsroomPost. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ "Mastermind behind Bihar Hooch tragedy that killed over 70 nabbed by Delhi police". Zee News. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ "Chhapra deaths: How hooch tragedies have stalked dry Bihar". India Today. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ Mukherjee, Shine Jacob & Sanjeeb (2022-12-18). "Bihar hooch tragedy: Sobering reality of missing liquor policy". www.business-standard.com. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ "Why liquor is still killing so many people in dry Bihar | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ "At least 31 dead in India's Bihar after drinking toxic alcohol". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ "'You'll die, if you consume alcohol': Nitish Kumar on Bihar liquor deaths". mint. 2022-12-15. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ "65 Dead Due To Toxic Liquor In Bihar, Worst Tragedy Since Prohibition". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2023-01-01.