Four persons died after consuming suspected adulterated toddy or hooch in Mallikharjunapeta in One Town area in the city on Thursday evening. The incident came to light on Friday morning.
The deceased have been identified as – Edi Subramanyam (32), an employee in South Central Railway, Karjurapu Durga Rao (38), a washer man, Kona Yesu (27) a labourer, and Sarepalli Koteswara Rao (55) a watch mechanic – all residents of different places in Vijayawada.
Two other persons – Rampilla Nagaraju, a painter and Tamada Prakash – a washer man were undergoing treatment in Government General Hospital and a private hospital. Their condition is stated to be critical.
White liquor consumed
According to Nagaraju’s brother, R. Nagadurga Sai Kumar, who was an eyewitness told The Hindu , that Subramanyam offered liquor to his friends on the occasion of his birthday on Thursday evening at around 6 p.m.
“Subramanyam brought some white liquor in a bottle and my brother Nagaraju, Yesu, Durga Rao, Koteswara Rao and Subramanyam consumed the liquor in front of a shop at Mallikharjunapeta. Later, they went homes”, said Sai Kumar.
Koteswara Rao’s sister-in-law, Lokanatham Lakshmi said as Mr. Rao did not wake up in the morning, house owner Sai informed them over phone about the incident. The neighbours broke open the doors and found Koteswara Rao lying dead, she said.
Samples collected
The bodies were shifted to Government General Hospital (GGH) for post-mortem. Police seized some empty bottles and samples of the liquor from the spot.
Prohibition and Excise in-charge Deputy Commissioner S.M. Rajeswara Rao inquired about the health condition of Nagaraju in GGH. Speaking on the occasion, the DC said the Excise and Police are trying to find out on what liquor the victims have consumed exactly.
The police registered a case and took up investigation. Police arranged security at the GGH and at Mallikharjunapeta in Brahmana Veedhi to prevent any untoward incidents in the city.
