Bihar: Six Dead, Several Hospitalised After Consuming Illicit Liquor In Motihari, CM Nitish Reacts

The recent hooch tragedy in the state's Motihari district, which claimed at least six lives and hospitalised several others, is the latest in a string of such deaths since the 2016 alcohol ban.

File Photo Of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ( Image Source :Getty )

At least six people died in Bihar after consuming illicit liquor, while 10 people were hospitalised, two of whom were critically ill, according to Jayant Kant, DIG, Champaran Range, quoted by news agency ANI on Saturday. The tragedy was reported from the Motihari blocks of Lakshmipur, Paharpur, and Harsiddhi, about 150 kilometres northwest of the state capital Patna, and is the latest in a string of such deaths since the Bihar government banned alcohol in the state in 2016. In response to the tragedy, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said it was an unfortunate incident and that he had requested information about it. 

#WATCH | "It is a sad incident. I have asked for all information on it," says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on the Motihari hooch tragedy which has claimed six lives. pic.twitter.com/IbzwAEoPVt

— ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2023

The BJP has targeted chief minister Nitish Kumar for recurring deaths caused by shady spirits. The opposition party recently clashed with Kumar following the release of a report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on 40 deaths caused by poisonous spirits in the state's Saran district. The administration was blamed for the deaths, according to the reports.

Deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav claimed that the visit by the rights panel was an attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre to defame the state government.

An enraged Nitish Kumar had lost his cool in the Bihar assembly following the Saran deaths, snapping at opposition MLAs who had targeted the government over prohibition in the state.

"The example is before us: if someone consumes liquor, they will die." "This should be condoled, those locations visited, and people explained," Nitish Kumar had said.

"Even when there was no liquor ban in place, people died as a result of tainted liquor - even in other states." People should be cautious. Because there is a liquor ban here, something phoney will be sold, causing people to die. "Liquor is bad and should not be consumed," he had said in the state legislature.