A compensation of Rs.2 lakh will be paid to the families of each illicit liquor victim by the West Bengal government.
Minister for Public Health Engineering Subrata Mukherjee made the announcement in the Assembly on behalf of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
“We have little accountability in this case, this is more of a social evil and we all need to sit together to discuss this so that it can be eradicated,” he said.
Making a statement in this respect, he said that on Tuesday night some daily labourers of Sangrampur area in South 24 Parganas had consumed illicitly distilled (ID) liquor from an ID liquor shop. Subsequently, many villagers fell ill. So far eight deaths have been reported but the figure may rise.
Eighty-five people have been admitted to the Diamond Harbour Hospital following the incident. Some people with similar symptoms from the Moghata police station area were also admitted. Five persons are reported to be in a critical condition.
He said police and excise officials arrested four persons in connection with the incident.
A team of senior officers from the Directorate of Excise, led by the Additional Excise Commissioner, is also investigating the case.
