Toll in hooch tragedy rises to five

Contai, Oct 23 (UNI) With the death of one more person today, the toll in Sunday's hooch tragedy rose to five here in East Midnapur district.

Contai police station officer Sunil Sikdar said some 12 members of Mukundapur community puja of Jagannathchowk village of East Midnapur district were taken ill, eight of them critically, after consuming illicit liquor during the immersion of Durga idols.

All of them were yesterday admitted to Contai hospital, where four died.

This morning one more person died in the hospital.

The rest were shifted to SSKM hospital in Kolkata, Mr Sikdar added.

He said the shops had been sealed and their owners were absconding.

UNI