Seven tribals of Arda village in Kirmira block in Jharsuguda district fell sick after consuming self-made liquor on Thursday night.
They were immediately shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital at Jharsuguda. But when the condition of one Harish Chandra Gardia deteriorated, he was shifted to the VSS Medical College Hospital at Burla, informed Jharsuguda Collector Niranjan Sahu.
The members of a tribal family at Arda, in order to prepare a special drink and make it more attractive, blended country liquor with beer and cold drink. They preserved it for a few days in an earthen pot that ultimately turned spurious. Without knowing the injurious effect of the liquor, five members of the Mirdha family and two of their relatives consumed it.
“The Excise Department and the police are investigating to know the authenticity of the tribals’ claim of making liquor in this process,” Collector Sahu informed further. “But had it been spurious liquor from the source, it would have caused a big tragedy in the area,” he added.