In a heart-wrenching incident, two individuals tragically lost their lives and two others suffered irreversible blindness after consuming spurious liquor in the eastern state of Bihar, India. The incident occurred in the Qazi Mohammadpur police station area of Muzaffarpur district, which is located approximately 72 km north of Patna, the capital city of Bihar.
The devastating effects of the spurious liquor were discovered when two victims from the Pokharia Pir locality passed away. Distraught family members revealed that these individuals had returned home in an inebriated state three days prior, subsequently falling ill and ultimately succumbing to their ailments despite receiving medical treatment.
Tragically, two other residents of the same locality have also lost their eyesight as a result of consuming the toxic liquor.
Authorities have wasted no time in initiating investigations and are determined to identify those responsible for selling the counterfeit liquor. In response, a comprehensive crackdown against illicit liquor suppliers has been launched in the district.
A police official commented, “The number of affected individuals may rise further as we are conducting door-to-door searches in the area to locate individuals who have fallen ill after consuming spurious liquor.”
This distressing incident once again underscores the persistent issue of the sale and consumption of spurious liquor in Bihar. It is important to note that the sale and consumption of liquor are strictly prohibited under the law in this otherwise dry state.
It is disconcerting to see such tragedies recurring despite the implementation of the prohibition of liquor sales in Bihar in 2016, a move prompted by the advocacy of women’s groups who aimed to prevent the squandering of meager earnings on alcohol.
Alarmingly, deaths resulting from the consumption of illicit liquor are frequently reported in the state despite ongoing efforts to combat this issue.
In a previous tragic incident in April of this year, over 30 people lost their lives due to suspected toxic liquor consumption.
Regrettably, this is not the first time Bihar has been gripped by such a catastrophe. In December 2022, more than 90 lives were lost, and numerous others were hospitalized after consuming tainted bootleg liquor.
It is crucial that authorities intensify their efforts to eradicate this menace, ensuring the safety and well-being of the citizens of Bihar.
Xinhua/NAN
