Hooch tragedy: Spurious liquor claims 30 lives in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand

At least 30 people were killed on Friday after drinking spurious liquor in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur and Kushinagar districts and Uttarakhand's Roorkee.

At least 16 people died on Friday after drinking spurious liquor in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur and Kushinagar districts.

According to Kushinagar District Magistrate, Anil Kumar, eight deaths have been reported in Kushinagar district. At least nine people have been suspended in connection with the case, added Kumar. A further investigation is on.

In another incident, 14 people died in Uttarakhand's Roorkee on Friday after consuming illicit liquor. A total of 13 excise officials have been suspended in connection with the case.

Haridwar Superintendent of Police (SP) confirmed that the death toll increased to 14 from 12.

Taking cognisance of the matter in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked to provide immediate medical help to the victims. He has also announced a compensation of Rs two lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the victims undergoing treatment in the hospital.

CM Adityanath has instructed Chief Secretary Excise Joint operation and Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) to take strict action against those responsible. He has asked to initiate departmental action against District Excise Officers. 

UP CM also directed the state's DGP to take stock of the situation and fix responsibility of the police in two districts where several deaths due to spurious liquor were reported.

There is no official confirmation on the number of people who died due to the consumption of illicit liquor. However, Zee Media reported 28 deaths so far.

On Thursday the toll in spurious hooch case in adjoining Kushinagar district rose to six with two more deaths, prompting authorities to take action against nine officials.

Authorities suspended the excise inspector, two head constables and two constables of the department. Besides, SP Kushinagar has sent four cops including SHO Tarya Sujan police station to the police line.

Ramvriksha, 32, Bedupar village under Tarya Sujan police station died on Wednesday around 12.30 in the night and Ramnath, 45, of the same village died Thursday morning.? 

On Tuesday night Chanchal Chauhan, 45, died after consuming the intoxicant, while Deba Nishad (55), Heera Lal Nishad (33) and Awadh Kishore Nishad had died immediately after consuming the drink on Monday.

"In the post-mortem report, the cause behind the death of two people was not clear so the viscera sample has been sent to Varanasi for a chemical test to ascertain the cause of death. The post-mortem report of other bodies is awaited. SHO Tarya Sujan, Vinay Pathk along with inspector and two constables of the area have been called at police lines,? SP Kushinagar Rajiv Narayan Mishra said.

DM Anil Kumar Singh had sent a report to the government. "After my report to the government, excise inspector Hriday Narayan Pandey and two head constables and two constables of excise department have been suspended," the DM said.

As per locals, there was a fair in the village on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya and a lot of people had consumed the spurious liquor.