TNN
Bangalore, May 19: They were only looking for some moments of high, but fate had cruel plans for them. At least 17 persons died and over 35 were hospitalised since Saturday night in Bangalore and Kolar after they consumed hooch.
In Roshan Mohalla area of D J Halli, at least six persons, including a woman, died and over 30 were hospitalised. Four of the deceased were identified as Dorai (42), Moula (52), Dorai (50) and Rani (50). However, DCP (east) B K Singh, speaking to TOI, confirmed that four persons have died and 16 have been admitted.
After consuming hooch, people started vomiting and were rushed to nearby hospitals. While one woman died at Bowring Hospital, some died en route. Bowring Hospital kept receiving a flood of patients.
Akhil Ahmed of Moon Star Committee, who was shifting bodies to Bowring Hospital morgue, claimed that 11 persons had died while the condition of some others was serious. Following the deaths, angry locals ransacked the arrack vend. Police have now heightened security in the area.
In what is Kolar district's worst hooch tragedies, 11 persons, including three women, died while five are battling for their lives after consuming hooch, which, according to police, was supplied by political parties to woo voters.
The deceased are Payappa (51), Karagappa (48), Subramani (48), Ramakka (55), Krishnappa (38) and Muniyappa of Tekal in Malur taluk and Narayanamma (55), Muniswamy (50), Narayanaswamy (35), Manjunath (35) and Chinnakka (55) of Narasapur in Kolar taluk. Venkatesh, Gundappa and Muniyappa of Tekal and Honnappa and Krishnappa of Narasapur have been admitted to hospital. Most of the victims were farm labourers.
On Saturday night, Payappa and Karagappa died after consuming the deadly brew reportedly supplied to them prior to the first phase of polling. Many villagers had secured large quantities of hooch and stocked it in their houses.
Some residents of Ambedkar Colony in Narasapur had consumed the illicit liquor on Saturday evening and complained of giddiness and blurred vision on Sunday morning. Three of them were admitted to the Narasapur PHC but did not survive. Two others died where they had been to attend nature's call.
Relatives of the deceased blocked the Bangalore-Chennai National Highway demanding arrest of the arrack vendors. Three more persons who were admitted at the Tekal PHC died taking the death toll to eleven. This prompted the residents to stage a roadblock on Malur road. DGP R Srikumar has asked IGs and SPs to crack down on unlicensed liquor dens and ordered a probe.
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