Bihar: Poorest of Poor Are Once Again Victims of Spurious Liquor Tragedy in ‘Dry’ State

Patna: Two days after Mohd Islamuddin died allegedly after consuming allegedly toxic desi (country) liquor, his widow Tabassum Perween and her two small sons have lost their only hope for livelihood.

“My husband was the only bread-earner. His death due to spurious liquor consumption has left us hopeless and helpless. Now, we will have to struggle to make ends meet,” she said.

Poverty-stricken Islamuddin, 35, was a daily wage labourer. A resident of Barahimpur village under Masrak police station in Saran district, he, along with a close relative Shamshad Ansari, 26, consumed country liquor, which is easily available and cheap, on Tuesday. Soon after, their health deteriorated and they died.

“We are poor, who will look after me and my two children?”, said Tabassum, who claimed her husband was not a regular drinker. “On October 16, he purchased a desi liquor pouch for Rs 50 and consumed it with fish fry, along with Shamshad, not knowing that it will end his world,” she said.

Tabassum is not alone. There are other women like her whose husbands died after consuming country liquor in ‘dry’ Bihar.

Officially, at least 26 people, have died in the past three days after allegedly drinking spurious country liquor (desi daru) in Siwan, Saran and Gopalganj districts, police officials said on Friday. But unconfirmed reports put the death toll at more than 45. Most of deaths occurred on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The death toll is likely to rise as several of those undergoing treatment are in critical condition in different hospitals.

Officials admitted that most of the victims were from poor families and used to consume locally made cheap liquor sold in in polythene packs.
 

According to district officials, over two dozen people are battling for lives in various government-run hospitals. Family members and close relatives have been camping in hospitals.

During the past three days, dozens of villages in Siwan and Saran districts reported a number of deaths as well as loss of vision after consumption of liquor.

“My son reportedly consumed liquor along with other villagers. He developed dizziness, nausea and blurred vision. We rushed him to hospital but his condition deteriorated. He is still critical. What more can I say? Easy availability of liquor everywhere, mainly in rural areas in a dry state and the use of toxic chemicals to make this liquor more effective by the liquor mafia, is resulting in hooch tragedies like this.  This is not the first time. In recent years, one after another hooch incidents have been reported in Saran” said Lakhendar Rai, whose son is struggling for life.

Rajendar Shah, a young labourer, was in festive mood when he purchased cheap local-made liquor on Tuesday evening and
consumed it with fish along with some friends. Within an hour, he developed breathlessness, a burning sensation in the chest and blurred vision.

“I was upbeat and happy after consuming the liquor, but that did not last long, as slowly I lost my vision and informed mu family members, who rushed me to a government-run hospital. Though doctors are treating me since Tuesday night, I am yet to regain my vision” Shah told news agency AFP over phone from his hospital bed.

Shah, a resident of Bhagwanpur block in Siwan district, is one among the over dozen people who have lost their vision or have developed blurred vision and are undergoing treatment at different government hospitals.

Krishna Yadav, another resident of Bhagwanpur, said his brother’s health also deteriorated soon after he consumed liquor that he purchased from a local supplier.

“First, he complained of stomach pain and nausea followed by blurred vision. We rushed him to hospital. Doctors treating him told us that he lost some of his vision,” he said.

Sale, manufacture and consumption of liquor were prohibited in Bihar in 2016 after women's groups campaigned against poor workers splurging their meagre incomes on drinking. The authorities have been using drones, helicopters and motorboats to crack down on the black market, but the liquor mafia is flourishing and minting money.
 

According to reports reaching here, there is gloom and sadness in several villages after the reported deaths. People fear more bad news because the health condition of more than 20 people, undergoing treatment, is serious.

The latest hooch incident has once again exposed that liquor ban in Bihar is only on paper, as liquor is easily available, thanks to the powerful liquor mafia.

Villagers in several places blamed the failure of prohibition in the state due to poor implementation at the ground level and police negligence.

Opposition parties have also targeted the state government for its failure to implement the liquor ban. The state government has officially admitted 157 deaths due to hooch since prohibition was imposed in the state in 2016.

After the latest hooch incident, the state government has announced strict action and had directed top officials to crack down on the liquor mafia.

The writer is a freelancer based in Patna, Bihar.