BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government has launched a multi-level probe and ordered stringent action against those responsible for the suspected hooch tragedy in Sagar district, with Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda visiting the affected area and patients undergoing treatment at Bundelkhand Medical College on Monday.
The incident, reported from villages in Bunda and Shahgarh areas, has claimed several lives after people allegedly consumed suspected substandard or illicit liquor. The administration has ordered a magisterial inquiry to ascertain the exact cause of the deaths and fix responsibility.
Devda, who holds Excise portfolio, visited BMC to take stock of the condition of patients, directed doctors and district officials to ensure that all affected persons receive free and the best possible treatment without any lapse.
“The guilty will not be spared. Whoever is found responsible, irrespective of how influential they may be, will face the strictest action,” Devda said, adding that the government would take concrete measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
According to the administration, a case has been registered against 30 people under Section 49-A of the Excise Act, while 14 accused have so far been arrested. Action has also been initiated against officials found negligent in the discharge of their duties, with some officials already suspended.
The government has also sanctioned an ex-gratia assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the dependants of those who died in the incident following a discussion between Devda and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the investigations would be conducted thoroughly and that action would be taken on the basis of the findings. The administration has also been directed to take preventive and legal measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
The magisterial inquiry, ordered by Sagar Collector Pratibha Pal, will examine the circumstances leading to the incident, the actual cause of the deaths and the responsibility of individuals involved in the manufacture, storage and distribution of the suspected illicit liquor.
The inquiry will also establish whether consumption of substandard or illicit liquor was indeed responsible for the deaths and examine whether officials of the concerned regulatory departments failed to perform their duties. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Jaisinagar, has been appointed as the inquiry officer.
Pal said another person died in the early hours of Monday, taking the toll to 12. She said 25 to 30 people were currently under medical observation, with two in critical condition.
One patient was airlifted to Bhopal on Sunday for specialised treatment, the collector said.
The incident reportedly occurred during the intervening night of September 4 and 5 in villages including Nauraaj and Googara Khurd in Shahgarh tehsil and Bamura in Bunda tehsil. Several villagers reported symptoms including vomiting, loss of consciousness and body tremors before being taken to the Bunda health centre for treatment.