Five succumb to illicit liquor in Vijayawada

Consumption of illicitly distilled or contaminated liquor is suspected to be the cause. Fifteen others battle for life in Government General Hospital.

Leaders of the BJP and Mahila Sangams staging a protest, demanding action against the owners of the liquor shop on Monday. Photo: V. Raju

Five persons died and 15 others were hospitalized after they consumed liquor in a bar at Krishnalanka area here on Monday. The victims, all daily labourers, consumed an unknown brand at around 10 a.m. and fell unconscious.

Two of them died on the spot and three others succumbed later while the others are undergoing treatment at the Government General Hospital (GGH).

The condition of five persons is stated to be serious. The Police and excise officials suspect that illicitly distilled liquor might have been served to the workers or it must have been contaminated.

Krishnalanka police rushed to the spot, seized the liquor sample from the bar. “The victims are being identified and we are sending the liquor sample for forensic analysis”, said Assistant Commissioner of Police (central) T. Prabhakar Babu.