In yet another hooch tragedy on Monday, at least 14 people died while over 20 others are battling for their lives after consuming spurious liquor in Ramnagar area of Barabanki.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and ordered a high-level probe. Among the dead are four of a family — a man and his three sons.
After visiting Barabanki, ADG, Lucknow Zone, Rajiv Krishna said that an FIR had been lodged at Ramnagar police station while the liquor shop was sealed. He said that salesman Sunil Kumar and with others were arrested while the shop owner was on run.
The ADG said that bottles from the outlet and stored in houses of some people were seized and they were being sent to the laboratory for test. Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 14 as four more vistims died at the hospital. The officials however stuck to their figure of six.
On Monday night, some people purchased countrymade liquor from the shop of Danveer Singh in Raniganj area of Ramnagar. After consuming the liquor, most of them complained of nausea and stomach ache. They were rushed to primary health centres and later referred to the district hospital in Barabanki.
At least 16 of the victims were later referred to King George’s Medical University Trauma Centre in Lucknow for dialysis while six others were brought to Balrampur and Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya hospitals in the state capital.
The deceased were identified as Chhote Lal (62) and his three sons Ramesh (35), Sonu (25) & Mukesh (28). The other victims were identified as Rajesh (30), Ramesh Kumar & Suryabhan (27), Rajendra Verma (45), Gautam (41) and Mahendra (38). The four who died during treatment on Tuesday were Ram Sahare (20), Shiv Kumar (45), Mahesh Singh (45) and Ram Swaroop (55).
Meanwhile, Excise Minister JP Singh said: “The state government suspended dstrict excise officer Shiv Narain Dubey, excise inspector Ramtirath Maurya, three head constables and five constables of Excise department with immediate effect.”
Besides, DGP OP Singh ordered the suspension of circle officer Pawan Gautam and station house officer Rajesh Kumar Singh on charges of dereliction of duty. Barabanki, adjoining the state capital, is notorious for spurious liquor. Only in January 2018, 11 people had died in the same locality (Ramnagar).