AMN / GUWAHATI
The death toll in the Assam hooch tragedy reached 155 on Monday. State Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary today said, 95 deaths have been reported from Golaghat district, while 60 people have lost their lives in Jorhat.
He said, 97 people are still hospitalized in Golaghat and 171 in Jorhat. 26 people have been arrested in Golaghat, while in Jorhat, the number of those nabbed is eight.
The Excise department has intensified its drive against illicit spurious liquor across the state.
The state government has announced an ex-gratia of two lakh rupees each to the families of the deceased and 50,000 for those hospitalised.
Multiple high-level enquiries have also been initiated. Samples of spurious liquor have been collected and sent for forensic test.
Meanwhile Assam Excise Minister Parimal Suklabaidhya visited the JMCH to take stock of the victims of hooch tragedy undergoing treatment.
During his visit, the minister had to face heat as people gheraoed him demanding immediate arrest of the 4 liquid jaggery traders in Jorhat.