Guwahati: At least 78 people, including five women, died after consuming spurious liquor at a tea garden in Assam’s Golaghat district in the past 24 hours.
The victims are from Halmira tea garden area in the district. They were admitted to a hospital after they fell ill.
Locals say at least 78 persons, mostly tea garden labourers, fell critically ill after consuming hooch and that they were admitted to a hospital.
Nine of the hooch consumers are presently at the hospital; their treatment is going on.
Locals alleged that the spurious liquor was supplied from outside and some excise department personnel might be involved in the illegal trade.
“Thirteen labourers died and nine others are admitted to a hospital after consuming spurious liquor. Locals alleged that the liquor was supplied from outside. The government keeps saying it will ban illicit liquor but that never happens,” a local resident said.