65 Dead Due To Toxic Liquor In Bihar, Worst Tragedy Since Prohibition
NDTV
The JDU-RJD government is facing loud protests by the opposition BJP in the Assembly and outside over alleged laxity in implementing prohibition.
65 people have now been confirmed dead in Chapra, in Bihar's Saran district, due to the consumption of toxic liquor, news agency ANI reported. The tragedy, the biggest since Bihar went dry more than six years ago, is the latest in a long list of such deaths in Bihar ever since Chief Minister Nitish Kumar imposed prohibition in 2016.
The JDU-RJD government is facing loud protests by the opposition BJP in the Assembly and outside over alleged laxity in implementing prohibition.
Nitish Kumar had yesterday refused to give compensation to the families of those killed, and said people should be "more vigilant" when the state anyway has prohibition.
"Jo sharaab peeyega, wo toh marega hi na... Udaharan saamne hai - peeyoge toh maroge. (Those who drink liquor will obviously die. We have an example in this case)," Mr Kumar said in Hindi in response to a question in Patna, referring to demands of compensation in earlier cases.
