As many as 15 people have died after consuming spurious liquor in a village in Surat since Thursday. Startled by the incident, the state government has constituted a three-member committee to probe the matter and submit a report within three days.
“Since Thursday, 15 people have died so far after consuming hooch in Vareli village near Surat. We have sent their blood and viscera samples for forensic test to ascertain the exact cause of death,” said Minister of State for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja.
According to him, the home department has also transferred police officials of the area and inquiry had been ordered against them to fix responsibility. All those who died were migrant labourers engaged by industrial factories in Surat.
Many local breweries have reportedly come up in villages in Surat where more than five lakh migrant labourers live, working for factories in the area.
The high-level committee set up by the government includes additional director-general of police V.M. Pargi, director of prohibition and excise B.K. Kumar and deputy director of forensic science laboratory Dr. M.S. Dahiya.
The government has also announced that medical costs of those undergoing treatment will be borne by the State government.
