ETAH (UP): In Uttar Pradesh, the death toll due to spurious liquor consumption in Etah has reached to 21 on Sunday. Superintendent of Police Ajay Shankar Rai said the main accuse identified as Sripal for the incident has been arrested
District Magistrate Ajay Yadav said. “Twenty one persons have died so far in the liquor tragedy.”
Several people from Luhari Darwaja and adjacent Laukhera village consumed the liquor late on Friday which led to these deaths.
Locals claimed that 12 other persons were also taken ill after drinking the hooch, out of which six lost their eyesight.
Five government employees, including three from the excise department, have been suspended following the incident.
The state government has announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those undergoing treatment and asserted that action will be taken against liquor mafias.
In Lucknow, Chief Secretary Deepak Singhal had apprised Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav of the incident following which he directed Principal Secretary (Excise) and Principal Secretary (Home) to take action against officials found guilty of dereliction of duty.