Close on the heels of 25 people reportedly dying after consuming spurious liquor in Golaghat district of Assam since Thursday, eight people have died on Friday reportedly for the same reason at two villages under Borholla police station of Titabar civil sub-division of Jorhat district.
Also read: Assam: Death toll in Golaghat alcohol poisoning tragedy rises to 25
Jorhat deputy commissioner Roshni A Korati said that as per latest report received from the administration, seven persons have died after allegedly consuming spurious liquor and another four were undergoing treatment in the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital.
The dead included three women and four male. The dead and ill belonged to Gorajan Mising and Turung villages.
Korati said that she has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident and has directed Titabar Revenue Circle Officer Mitali Phukon to conduct the inquiry.
She said that police and Excise staff were carrying out drives against illicit liquor in areas under Borholla Police Station.
Meanwhile, two people have been arrested in connection with the deaths of 25 workers of Halmara tea estate in Golaghat district where illicit country liquor had been brought from outside and allegedly passed off as rice beer ‘sulai’.
More than 20 are still admitted in Golaghat civil hospital.
Meanwhile, Jishnu Boruah, additional chief secretary to the government of Assam Excise, has entrusted Julie Sonowal, upper Assam Commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the deaths of the Halmara tea estate workers who died on Thursday and Friday.