Bhadrak: At least nine people died and over 60 others fell ill Tuesday after they allegedly consumed spurious liquor in a ‘post-election feast’ in Bhadrak district, police said. Some of the affected people have lost their eyesight.
Spurious foreign liquor worth Rs 10 lakh had been brought from Balasore to Doulatpur and Chandbali areas, it was alleged. The tragedy struck late Monday night, a few hours after polling for the fourth and final phase of elections in the state was over. Locals claimed that the victims had bought the liquor with the money provided to them by political parties before the polls Monday. The police said the entire episode is being probed.
“We have information that people in Daulatapur and another village under Tihidi police station limits had bought the liquor from a local market for a post-election feast,” Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Umakanta Moharana said.
Excise secretary Nikunja Bihari Dhal said a joint probe is being conducted by revenue, health, excise and police departments. “As the incident took place on a polling day after voting was over, we are taking the matter seriously,” Dhal said.
The deceased included Sadhu Nayak, 45, Shankarshan Das, 55, Ramachandra Padhiary, 52, Baidhar Nayak, 42, Shankarshan Parida, 45, all from Daulatpur area. Those who died in Chandbali were Manoj Mohanty, 36, Krushna Chandra Nayak, 40, Harihara Jena, 40 and Debendra Panda, 52. Excise Commissioner Upendra S Punia, who rushed to the area after the incident, told media that a forensic team collected samples for test. It was said around 40 people were taken to the district headquarters hospital after they fell ill.
Additional District Medical Officer PK Khuntia said the villagers complained of nausea, stomachache and loss of eyesight after consuming the liquor Monday night.
The district administration has ordered an inquiry to ascertain the cause of death and the circumstances that led to the tragedy, a senior official said. Punia said a clear picture will emerge after samples collected from the area are tested and post-mortem reports of the deceased are made available.
