The toll in the suspected industrial spirit consumption tragedy in Visakhapatnam rose to seven with four more people including three women succumbing to it while undergoing treatment at the King George Hospital early on Monday.
Three persons including a woman died and 13 people were hospitalised after they consumed the spirit found in a garbage dump presuming it to be locally brewed arrack at the Uppara Colony (ST Colony) and Swatantra Nagar of Pedagantyada Mandal under the Gajuwaka police station limits on Sunday.
The deceased were identified as Pindri Appalamma (70), Asanala Kondayya (60), Vadapalli Appanna alias Appadu (65), Asanala Chinna Rao (58), Asanala Ramanamma (59), Vadapalli Anakamma (65) and Asanala Ravanamma, said DCP (South Zone) Adnan Nayeem Asmi.
“There is no clarity on the cause of deaths. We sent the chemical for analysis and are awaiting the report,” the DCP said. Nine people were receiving treatment and the condition of one A Yarrodu was said to be critical.
They were being given special care at the nephrology ward with haemodialysis and other supportive care. Their condition was being monitored round-the-clock, said superintendent of the KGH Dr G. Arjuna.
He told the media that they had received a chemical analysis report from the Regional Chemical Laboratory of Prohibition and Excise Department which said the liquid was methyl alcohol (Methanol).
Dr. Arjuna said methanol was a type of alcohol but not meant for human consumption and was highly toxic. The police registered a case of suspicious deaths (under Section 174 of CrPC).
Mild tension prevailed at the mortuary in the KGH as relatives and the Left parties had staged dharna demanding compensation. They met Collector K. Bhaskar seeking compensation of ₹20 lakh for the family members of each victim.
