Eastern India’s hooch tragedy death toll reaches 35

NEW DELHI, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) — The death toll in eastern India’s hooch tragedy hit 35 on Friday, a government official said over phone.
The death toll was feared to rise further, as more than 25 people were battling for their lives in different hospitals in India’s eastern state of Bihar.
Bihar has been under prohibition for sale and consumption of liquor since April 2016. However, illicit liquor trade had been going on across the state, amid reports of deaths in hooch tragedies hitting headlines at regular intervals.
According to Bihar’s Director General of Police Alok Raj, several people had been arrested on the charge of supplying spurious liquor resulting in multiple deaths.
He said two special investigation teams had been formed to look into the criminal aspect and implementation of government’s prohibition policy, in the aftermath of the latest hooch tragedy. ■