13 dead in AP liquor tragedy

Ichapuram, Andhra Pradesh, Mar 20 (UNI) The death toll in the spurious liquor tragedy that struck Rattakanna, a small village on the outskirts of this town in the northern tip of Andhra Pradesh, rose to 13 with seven deaths being reported today.

Eleven of them belonged to the village while two hailed from Berhampur in Orissa, from where the deadly brew was brought.

The tragedy occurred yesterday when a group of people, mainly daily wage workers in nearby quarries, went to the funeral of an old man D Jaggaiah, who himself had died after drinking spurious liquor.

After the cremation, 25 of them were offered the brew as per 'tradition'. They soon complained of churning in their stomach and started vomiting. Some of them fell unconscious.

They were hurriedly taken to hospital here, in Berhampur, 16 km away and Visakhapatnam. Five died before reaching hospital, while the others died while undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, the state government ordered an inquiry by the Excise Department (Enforcement) Director Surendra Babu, who would visit this remote village tomorrow. Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, who belongs to this district, rushed to Ichapuram and announced ex-gratia of Rs one lakh each to the kin of the dead.

The dead from the village were identified as D Jagaiah, D Jogaiah, D Lakhiah, D Madaiah, K Purushotham, M Ramaiah, D Surya Narayan, G Perumallu, P Kanaiah, B Barikaiah and D Babaiah, according to Srikakulam District Superintendent of Police A S Gurappa.

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