15 deaths across 2 Bihar districts linked to illicit liquor

According to relatives of those who died in Siwan, around 20 people had consumed illicit liquor on Monday and Tuesday.

At least 15 people suspected to have consumed illicit liquor have died over a period of three days in Bihar’s Siwan and Saran districts, where several others have been hospitalised with complaints of stomach ache, nausea, and blurring of vision.

Officials in the Siwan and Saran administration said that those who died consumed some “intoxicating substance”. In the wake of the incident, Siwan police have suspended Bhagwanpur Haat police station in-charge, and Saran police have issued a show cause notice to Masrakh police station in-charge.

Excise Commissioner Krishna Kumar has visited Siwan and Saran to investigate the matter.

According to Siwan police, 10 deaths took place in Bhagwanpur, Madhar and Koudia over the last three days. Saran police said five deaths took place in the district during this period. All the victims are between 22 and 40 years old

According to relatives of those who died in Siwan, around 20 people had consumed illicit liquor on Monday and Tuesday. “Ten of them reported stomach ache soon after drinking suspected illicit liquor and later died either on way to hospital or at Siwan hospital,” said Prakash Kumar, relative of one of the victims.

Siwan Superintendent of Police Amitesh Kumar told reporters: “We have been talking to victims’ families to know the exact reasons for the deaths. Postmortem is also being conducted. Raids are underway to arrest liquor traders and manufacturers.”

Saran SP Kumar Ashish said police in the district have already arrested eight liquor traders. Since 2016, more than 350 people have died in over two dozen hooch tragedies in Bihar. In 2022, 73 people died in Saran in the biggest such incident seen in the state.