GUWAHATI: The death toll in the Assam hooch tragedy increased to 143 on Sunday while over 200 victims still remained hospitalised in Golaghat and Jorhat districts, health authorities in Assam said. The toll is likely to mount as condition of some victims in hospitals was stated to be critical.
According to official figures available till filing of this report, 85 victims of the tragedy have died in Golaghat district while 58 including 43 males and 15 females died in Jorhat district so far. Most of the deaths have occurred in Jorhat Medical College Hospital and Golaghat Civil Hospital.
Assam police investigation team led by Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Mukesh Agarwal has so far arrested 10 persons in connection with the sale and manufacture of the illicit liquor. Liquor samples have been sent for test in state forensic science laboratory.
Meanwhile, an Excise Department official said that a total of 90 cases have been registered regarding the unauthorised sale and production of hooch and also for violating the excise law. About 4,860 litres of illicit liquor have been destroyed since February 22.
The tragedy occurred after a large number of people consumed the spurious liquor on Thursday night at the Salmora tea estate in Golaghat, 300 km from here, and at two remote villages in Titabor sub-division of Jorhat district.
Meanwhile, crack down carried out by some vigilante groups on illicit liquor dens and manufacturing unit in Numaligarh area in Golaghat district with the help of Village Defence Party and police led to destruction of over 2000 litres of illicit liquor.
