The death toll in the hooch tragedy at Assam’s Golaghat and Jorhat has risen to 102 on Saturday.
According to the latest reports, the toll crossed 100, with 102 dead with more than 20 others undergoing treatment and are stated to be critical.
Also read: Assam: ‘I couldn’t sleep the whole night’, recalls hooch tragedy survivor
The incident took place after a tea garden worker known as Sanjay Oran brought local country liquor known as ‘sulai‘ in a jerry can.
The other tea garden workers of Halmira Tea Estate brought the liquor from his house.
Deputy superintendent of police Partha Protim Saikia said that a sample of the liquor had been sent for forensic investigation.
However, Saikia claimed that the can in which the liquor was brought might have been contaminated.
According to the deputy superintendent, the liquor was not brewed at the tea estate but brought from outside.
The tradition of drinking country liquor has remained a common practice among the tea garden workers despite many drives against country liquor and awareness programme about the adverse health impact of such liquor.
Earlier on Friday, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal while expressing grave concern over the death of at least 13 people including women allegedly due to alcohol poisoning in Golaghat district, has ordered an inquiry into the tragedy.
Chief minister Sonowal has instituted a one man inquiry and asked Upper Assam Division commissioner Julie Sonowal to inquire into the corollaries of events leading to the death of the tea garden labourers.
The modus operandi of the inquiry will be study the circumstances and other related causative factors and prepare a report and submit the same to the government.
