Daijiworld Media Network- Amritsar
Amritsar, May 14: In a devastating incident, at least 21 men lost their lives after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in the Majitha area of Amritsar. The tragedy, which struck late last evening, has left another 10 victims in critical condition, with authorities investigating the cause of the deadly brew.
The victims, predominantly from economically weaker sections of society, were largely farm laborers and landless farmers who often resorted to purchasing illicit liquor due to its low cost. According to reports, they bought 150 ml pouches for just Rs 30- and 250-ml pouches for Rs 50 from local vendors.
The tragic event unfolded when victims from Threwal and Marari villages consumed the toxic liquor purchased from known sellers, Sahib Singh (alias Raee) and Gurjant Singh. Many of the affected individuals initially experienced uneasiness and attempted to alleviate their discomfort with homemade remedies and painkillers. However, their condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to fatalities.
The deceased have been identified as Major Singh (45), Paramjit Singh (60), Tasveer Singh (37), Sukhwinder Singh (45), and Sarabjeet Singh (38) from Marari Kalan; Iqbal Singh (45), Ramandeep Singh (38), Robanjit Singh (38), Balbir Singh (55), Raja (32), and Joginder Singh (70) from Bhangali Kalan; Karnail Singh (34), Ajit Singh (80), and Joginder Singh (39) from Threwal; Romy (38) and Ganju Ram (36) from Patalpuri; Kaka (26) and Gagan (35) from Karnala; Mukhtar Singh (62) and Satpal Singh (55) from Bhangwan village, and Amarpal Singh (35) from Talwandi Khumman.
As of now, 31 people have been affected, with 21 confirmed dead and 10 others still battling for their lives under medical observation at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar. The hospital has listed the names of the critically ill: Tarsem Singh, Kala, Gulzar Singh, Kewal Singh, Raman Sharma, Nathu Ram, Jaspal Singh, Sarwan Singh, Chanan Singh, and Muthak Raj.
The tragedy has left families devastated, many of whom are struggling with the financial and emotional repercussions. Karnail Singh, a 34-year-old brick loader and tractor driver from Threwal, was the sole breadwinner of his family. His friend Sukha shared how Singh had worked hard to provide for his family, often opting for the cheap liquor as a form of relaxation after long days of labor. Unfortunately, this time, it proved fatal.
Another victim, Sukhwinder Singh Nikku (45), a bus driver, died after complaining of severe pain following consumption of the illicit liquor. His family is now left to cope with the loss.
The tragedy has also sparked political outrage. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visited the affected areas and assured the victims’ families of compensation and state support. He announced Rs 10 lakh as compensation for the next of kin of each deceased, as well as full funding for the children’s education. Mann also vowed to probe the involvement of local police, bureaucracy, and politicians in facilitating the illegal trade.
Opposition leaders have demanded accountability. Partap Singh Bajwa, Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, pointed out that the tragedy could not have occurred without some level of complicity from authorities, while SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia called for the resignation of the Excise Minister, Harpal Singh Cheema, over the incident.
The authorities have launched a full investigation into the matter, with police working to apprehend those responsible for the sale of the deadly liquor, which has left a community mourning and demanding justice.