At least 30 dead after consuming spurious liquor in Assam's Golaghat; Rahul Gandhi condoles

"I am saddened by the incident which occurred in Assam's Golaghat area. My deepest condolences to the families of the victims. I hope that those undergoing treatment get well soon," Gandhi said in a Facebook post.

(Representative photo)

New Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi Friday offered condolences to the families of those who died after consuming spurious liquor in Assam's Golaghat district. At least 30 people, including seven women, died allegedly after consuming the liquor at a tea garden. Fifty others are undergoing treatment at various hospitals, a district official said. "I am saddened by the incident which occurred in Assam's Golaghat area. My deepest condolences to the families of the victims. I hope that those undergoing treatment get well soon," Gandhi said in a Facebook post. It is believed that more than 100 people - labourers at Salimira tea garden - consumed the spurious liquor on Thursday night, BJP MLA Mrinal Saikia said.

Police have arrested two people in connection with the deaths. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has ordered an inquiry into the incident. Two excise officials of the district have been suspended. The incident took place on Thursday night at the Salmora tea estate in Golaghat, 300 km from here. "A total of 55 people have been referred to the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Seven of them have died while 48 others were still undergoing treatment," said the doctors at the Jorhat hospital. The locals said several people consumed liquor in the tea estate on Thursday night after procuring the stock from a particular seller. Several of them took ill immediately and many were not even taken to the hospital. They also complained about a nexus between the police and the illegal liquor sellers. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal condemned the incident and sent a team to the district to take stock of the situation. "The state government has suspended two excise officials after holding them responsible for the tragedy. We have also asked a four-member team, led by Additional Commissioner of Excise Department Sanjib Medhi, to probe the incident," said Shuklabaidya, adding that the probe committee has been asked to submit its report to the government within three days.