Hooch claims 13 lives in dry state' Bihar; 3 member committee to probe incident

Patna: A three-member medical committee has been constituted to probe the death of 13 persons in Bihar’s Gopalganj district. Highly placed sources from the district claimed that the death occurred due to illicit liquor consumption.

The incident occurred in Khajurbani locality of the district where according to sources more than a dozen persons after consuming country made illicit liquor complained of nausea and stomach ache. They were rushed to a local hospital where thirteen persons died during treatment.

Sources from Gopalganj told this newspaper that, “Two other persons were admitted to a private hospital in Gorakhpur for treatment”. Refusing to confirm the reasons behind these deaths district magistrate Rahul Kumar said, “We are probing the case and will be able to confirm the reason behind these deaths only after we get post – mortem report”.

The district administration has constituted a medical board to investigate the reasons behind these deaths. The incident may cause huge embarrassment for Nitish Kumar led government which had imposed a ban on sale, possession and consumption of liquor on April 5 this year.