The suspected consumption of spurious liquor has claimed five lives in the Mashrakh and Panapur areas of Saran district in Bihar. Several other victims are currently hospitalized, with medical reports indicating that at least five to six people have lost their eyesight. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of enforcing the 2016 liquor prohibition in the state. Local administration officials have formed a Special Investigation Team to look into the tragic deaths.
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Who are the victims and what did the families say?
The tragedy affected several families across different villages in the Mashrakh and Panapur regions between March 11 and March 13. The identified deceased individuals include:
- Santosh Mahto: A daily wage laborer from Takht village.
- Dharmendra Rai: A 40-year-old resident of Dubauli village.
- Sukan Nat: A 50-year-old resident of Dhenuki village.
- Sakuni Nat: A resident of Dhenuki village.
The wife of Santosh Mahto provided a direct account of the events leading up to his death. She shared that her husband returned from work after drinking with friends and soon complained of extreme restlessness. By the next morning, he had completely lost his vision and passed away during medical treatment. She publicly stated that alcohol remains easily accessible in their rural neighborhood, directly pointing out the active underground liquor trade in rural Saran.
What action is the local administration taking?
Local police forces have launched intensive raids across the affected regions over the last 24 hours. Law enforcement officers have detained at least four individuals suspected of operating within the local liquor mafia. The Saran District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police are overseeing the situation, while critical medical cases are being referred to Chhapra Sadar Hospital and Patna Medical College and Hospital.
The district administration currently categorizes the deaths as suspicious. The authorities are awaiting the final post-mortem and viscera reports to confirm whether toxic chemicals like methyl alcohol caused the fatalities. Under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act of 2016, the manufacture, sale, and consumption of liquor remain strictly illegal, and state officials maintain that there will be no rollback of the prohibition policy.
