Assam hooch tragedy death toll mounts to 80, 220 taken ill

Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday visited the Golaghat Civil Hospital where 35 people have died since Friday.

The remaining 45 died at the Jorhat Medical College.

According to the Minister, 221 people remain hospitalised in Jorhat while 93 were being treated in Golaghat.

The toll is likely to increase as many have also died in remote villages which are yet to be reported, the authorities added.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal held an urgent meeting with state Chief secretary Alok Kumar and Director General of Police Kuladhar Saikia to review the situation.

Sonowal has asked the officials to take up stern steps to stop the sale of illegal liquor.

The deaths were in connection with two incidents that took place on Thursday night.

While one incident occurred at the Salmora tea estate in Golaghat, 300 km from here, the other took place at two remote villages under the Titabor sub-division of Jorhat district.

The locals said several people consumed liquor in the tea estate on Thursday night after procuring the stock from a particular seller. Several of them took ill immediately and many were not even taken to the hospital.

State Excise Minister Parimal Shuklabaidya has ordered a probe into the matter.