Bihar Hooch Tragedy: Death Toll In Motihari Rises To 29, Govt To Give Rs 4 Lakhs To Kin Of Deceased

Bihar Hooch Tragedy: A total of 15 persons are being treated in Motihari Sadar Hospital and 14 more patients are admitted to a private hospital where four of them are in critical condition.

Relatives of victims mourn after at least fourteen persons died and 10 others were hospitalised after allegedly consuming suspected spurious liquor, in Motihari, Sunday, April 16, 2023. ( Image Source :PTI )

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday announced that the government will give Rs 4 lakhs to the kin of those who died in Bihar's Motihari (East Champaran district) in a suspected hooch tragedy. The death toll climbed to 29, Bihar Police informed on Tuesday. The deaths took place in Turkauliya, Harsiddhi, Sugauli, and Paharpur areas of the district, officials said. A total of 76 liquor smugglers have been arrested by the Motihari police in the last 36 hours.

"Information was received on 14.04.2023 that some persons have died under suspicious circumstances in Harsiddhi, Sugauli, Paharpur, Turkauliya, and Raghunathpur police station areas under Motihari district. Local citizens said that these people died due to the consumption of spurious liquor. As soon as the information about this was received, the district administration has conducted a door-to-door survey in the affected areas," Bihar Police mentioned in a statement on Sunday.

It informed that Deputy Inspector General of Police, Champaran area; Bettiah, District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Motihari visited all the hospitals and reviewed the condition of the persons undergoing treatment. Till now a total of 22 persons have died, in which a postmortem of 6 persons has been done so far.

मोतिहारी जिला पुलिस द्वारा जारी प्रेस विज्ञप्ति। @bihar_police pic.twitter.com/f2aWkpXDLW

— MOTIHARI POLICE (@motihari_police) April 16, 2023

According to the police, a total of 15 persons are being treated in Motihari Sadar Hospital, whose condition is normal and 14 persons are being treated in a private hospital,  the condition of four patients is revealed to be critical.

Raids were conducted to seize illegal liquor and arrest the criminals involved.

"In the course of this raid, a total of 76 liquor smugglers have been arrested by the Motihari police in the last 36 hours, out of which 25 liquor smugglers have been arrested in the affected areas and a total of 736.5 liters of liquor and 66 liters of spirit have been recovered. 6110 liters of paas (semi-finished liquor) have been destroyed. Apart from this, the concerned sub-divisional police will take action against the police officers who are negligent," the police statement mentioned. 

CM Nitish Kumar On Motihari Hooch Tragedy

CM Nitish Kumar said his government will provide Rs 4 lakhs to the families of the deceased provided they give in writing that they are in favour of alcohol ban in the state.

"This is a sad incident. We'll provide Rs 4 lakhs to the families of the deceased from the CM relief fund but they should provide in writing that they are in favour of alcohol ban in the state and that they are against drinking alcohol," he said, as per news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Motihari hooch tragedy: This is a sad incident. We'll provide Rs 4 lakhs to the families of the deceased, from CM relief fund but they should provide in writing that they are in favour of alcohol ban in the state & that they're against drinking alcohol: Bihar CM N Kumar pic.twitter.com/7t5EXSavOf

— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2023

"If the family members of those who have died by consuming spurious liquor after 2016, apply to the government, then we will provide them with a compensation of Rs 4 lakhs from the CM Relief Fund," he added.

Earlier, reacting to Motihari's suspected hooch tragedy, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, on Saturday said, “I have been maintaining that liquor is bad and shouldn't be consumed. I have asked officials to take strict action against those who violate prohibition laws”.

According to news agency PTI, Bihar BJP President Samrat Choudhary held the Nitish Kumar-led government responsible for deaths and said, “The CM should stop dreaming about becoming the prime minister and instead take care of the state. The state government is responsible for this tragedy ... we demand compensation for family members of those who died in the incident”.

The sale and consumption of alcohol were banned in Bihar by the Nitish Kumar government in April 2016. However, incidents of smuggling of liquor continue to be reported from the state notwithstanding the ongoing drive against bootleggers.

In the last major hooch tragedy in December 2022, scores of people died after consuming spurious liquor in the Saran district.