Two individuals have tragically lost their lives, while two others have suffered severe vision impairment after ingesting counterfeit alcohol in the eastern Indian state of Bihar.
The fatalities occurred in the vicinity of Qazi Mohammadpur police station, situated in Muzaffarpur district, approximately 72 kilometers north of Patna, the capital city of Bihar.
“We have received reports of two fatalities in the Pokharia Pir neighborhood. According to the deceased individuals’ family members, three days ago, these individuals returned home inebriated, subsequently falling ill and ultimately succumbing to their ailments during medical treatment,” stated a local official.
In addition to the fatalities, two other residents of the same area have experienced a loss of eyesight following the consumption of the tainted liquor.
Authorities have launched a thorough investigation and are diligently working to identify the individuals responsible for selling the illicit alcohol. A concerted effort to crack down on illegal liquor suppliers in the district is now underway.
“The number of affected individuals may potentially rise as law enforcement and district authorities are conducting door-to-door searches in the area to identify those who have fallen ill as a result of consuming counterfeit liquor,” the police spokesperson noted.
This tragic incident underscores the persistence of counterfeit liquor sales in Bihar, despite the state’s stringent prohibition on the sale and consumption of alcohol.
Notably, in April of this year, it was suspected that toxic liquor consumption in the state claimed the lives of more than 30 individuals.
The prohibition on the sale and consumption of alcohol in Bihar was implemented in 2016 following advocacy efforts by women’s groups, who sought to address the issue of impoverished workers squandering their meager incomes on alcohol.
Regrettably, incidents of deaths linked to the consumption of bootleg liquor continue to be reported in the state. In December 2022, a distressing event occurred, resulting in the loss of over 90 lives and numerous hospitalizations due to the consumption of contaminated bootleg liquor.