Hooch tragedy claims six more lives, death toll touches 13

Berhampur, Mar 19 (UNI) With the death of six more people today, the toll in the suspected spurious liquor tragedy in three villages of Orissa's Ganjam district, has risen to 13, official sources said.

They were identified as Budhia Sahu(45), S Muchia, a beggar from Srikakulum, N Banambar Patra, Niranjan Maharana, Panchu Das and Bipin Das.

Five people are still battling for their lives in the hospitals. While two people complaining of losing vision and vomiting were admitted to Chhatrapur Hospital, three others were taken to the M K C G Medical Colleges and Hospital for similar symptoms. Earlier, seven people died in Gada Humma, Baunsiapada and Khajuriapada villages in the Ganjam district on March 17 and 18 in the hooch tragedy.

The district authority rushed officials to the villages on receipt of fresh deaths reports from these villages.

The sources said a clear picture would emerge once the post-mortem reports were made available. However, the authority appealed to the people in the affected villages not to consume liquor.

The district administration was worried as it anticipated large congregation of the people in the villages to celebrate 'Panchu dola yatra', a local festival tomorrow.

The sources said Chatrapur MLA N Narayan Reddy, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ramkrupa Patnaik, Circle Inspector of Police Purushotampur Ashok Sahu, Tahasildars of Chatrapur and Rambha, Excise Superintendent and some other senior officers visited the villages yesterday.

The family members of the victims, who narrated the episode to the Chatrapur MLA, said the killer liquor was bought from the shop of one Kama Mohanty at Gada Humma.

Mr Reddy has demanded adequate compensation to the next kin of those died in the liquor tragedy.

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