At Least 22 Killed After Consuming Poisonous Liquor In UP's Aligarh: What We Know So Far

The death toll in the Aligarh hooch tragedy has risen to 22 on Saturday after seven more people lost their lives since Friday night.

Earlier, on Friday, Additional District Magistrate 15 people from different villages had died after consuming the illicit liquor.

"Seven people had died since Friday night and that the condition of 28 people receiving treatment at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital, AMU, and the Malkhan Singh District Hospital is critical," an official told PTI.

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There is also a fear that the toll may go up further as many who had consumed the liquor have not been traced.

What happened?

It all began on Thursday night after a large number of people from the villages consumed country liquor.

As many as 17 people died on Friday while five people died on Saturday morning taking the toll to 22. The toll is likely to increase. The condition of many people admitted to the district hospital remains critical.

BCCL

The people in Lodha, Khair and Jawan blocks of Aligarh bought country liquor from different liquor shops on Thursday evening and consumed it.

Four liquor shops sealed in area

Following the deaths, four liquor shops in the area have been sealed and all country liquor shops in the district have been asked to remain closed until the investigation is over.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)'s Public Relations Officer, Krishna Kumar Singh, said the police have registered three cases and arrested Anil Chaudhary, an accused in the liquor smuggling racket, and six people. Two main accused are still absconding on whom a reward of Rs 50,000 each has been announced.

BCCL

Following the incident, the Uttar Pradesh government has suspended District Excise Officer Dheeraj Sharma, Excise Inspector Rajesh Yadav, Constable Ashok Kumar, Inspector Chandraprakash Yadav and Constable Ramraj Rana on charges of negligence.

In UP during the lockdowns, while most of the business and commercial establishments have remained shut, liquor outlets were allowed to open.