At least 24 persons have died in Bihar’s Siwan and Saran districts after drinking hooch, reported the Hindustan Times.

As of Thursday, at least 20 persons died in Siwan district while four died in the neighbouring Saran district.

The sale and consumption of alcohol has been banned in Bihar since April 2016. However, instances of residents falling ill and dying after drinking spurious liquor are often reported from the state.

Saran District Magistrate Mukul Kumar Gupta confirmed that 38 other persons were hospitalised in the district after drinking spurious liquor. He said that a show-cause notice had been issued to excise department officials.

Saran Superintendent of Police Kumar Ashish said that a Special Investigation Team of the Bihar Police had been formed to investigate the incident. He confirmed that a first information report has been filed against eight persons, of whom three have been arrested.

Siwan Superintendent of Police Amitesh Kumar said: “The trail of liquor smuggling to the area is being established. The station house officer of Bhagwanpur Haat police station…has been suspended for liquor smuggling.”

Siwan Civil Surgeon Dr Shrinivas Prasad told the Hindustan Times that 25 people in the district, including two women, were receiving medical treatment at a local hospital after consuming hooch. Four other persons had been referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital.

Siwan Councillor Sushil Kumar Dablu disputed the official figures, claiming that about 50 persons had died from consuming spurious liquor.

“The administration always reports false figures,” Dablu alleged. “Ever since liquor has been banned in the state, such incidents have happened very frequently and the administration is not alert at all…The total number of deaths is nearing 50.”

A statement from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s office said that he held a high-level review meeting regarding the incidents in Siwan and Saran districts.

“Following the review, [Kumar] directed the secretary of the Prohibition, Excise and Registration Department to visit the sites, gather information, and conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter,” the statement read.

The Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal blamed the state’s National Democratic Alliance government, comprising the Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party, for the deaths.

“It is very sad and a matter of concern that despite the liquor ban law being in force in Bihar, spurious liquor is available…” said party leader Mrityunjay Tiwari. “The NDA government is directly responsible for this.”

In December 2022, 38 persons died in Saran district after drinking spurious liquor.

Also read: Why is Nitish Kumar so determined to continue with prohibition in Bihar?