Liquor Poisoning in Golaghat: 32 Killed, 50 Hospitalized

GOLAGHAT/JORHAT: In a shocking incident, as many as 32 people were killed and over 50 hospitalized in a hooch tragedy that struck tea garden workers in Golaghat since Thursday night.

At least 28 tea garden laborers in Halmira Tea Estate, four persons in Merapai along with more than fifty other persons have been hospitalized in Swahid Kushal Konwar Civil Hospital and Jorhat Medical College & Hospital. Consumption of locally-made alcohol led to the tragedy.

According to reports, on Thursday evening four old women felt illness and suffered vomiting and headache. After a while they were sent to the Golaghat Swahid Kushal Konwar Civil Hospital but they died before reaching the hospital. On Friday till the evening the number of death toll rose to 32. Over 50 persons are under treatment. Among the 32 dead, four persons from Gomariguri Adarsha Gaon and Gobindapur Gaon of Merapani have been identified as Maniram Dutta (40), Kamal Gogoi (50), Lalit Gogoi (30) and Papu Bora (40). They died after consuming spurious local alcohol.

About 47 affected people were sent the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital. In Friday evening, six of the persons admitted there were declared as dead. The deceased have been identified as Dropodi Urang, Santi Pujor, Dulal Urang, Sanju Urang, Belo Bhumij, Agni Gowala, Sublal Pujor, Bodhira Urang, Korkoria Gowala, Kartik Ghatowar, Sunita Pujor, Huglal Kujur, Boindhan Bawri and Binoti Bhakta. They were inhabitants of Halmira Tea Estate. Three other persons – Suren Gogoi, Suneswar Gogoi and Ananda Gogoi – of Jugibari of Golaghat district also died after consumption of the spurious alcohol.

AATTSA’s Golaghat district secretary Jagdish Boraik alleged that due to negligence of Golaghat district administration and the Excise Department the labours of Halmira TE had to meet such a tragic death. The local people of Halmira TE alleged that locally-made alcohol (sulai) are supplied from a nearby village, Chelengi, under Khumtai LAC to the Halmira TE and the alcohol is kept stored in several homes in labour line of the tea estate.

Chah Mukti Sangram Samiti leader Amit Nag said that illegal sulai manufacturing and distribution is from the Khumtai LAC. A large number of manufacturing units of local alcohol are in the Jugibari and Chelengi gaon, MLA Mrinal Saikia native village.

Various tea tribe organizations demanded suspension of the excise inspector of Golaghat. They also demanded Rs 1 lakh to each of the next of kin of the deceased.

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