AMN / WEB DESK

The death toll in hooch tragedy in Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakhand has gone up to 64. In UP, the toll has risen to 45 in Saharanpur and Kushinagar districts. 36 persons have died in Saharanpur district while 9 deaths have been reported from Kushinagar.

In Uttarakhand, the death toll in the spurious liquor tragedy has gone up to 19 in Bhagwanpur block of Haridwar district.

State government has suspended District Excise officers of Saharanpur and Kushinagar districts. On the orders of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath a crackdown on bootlegging was launched across the state from yesterday night and many persons have been arrested. State government has already suspended 14 police personnel.

District Magistrate of Saharanpur Alok Pande told media that post-mortem report of 36 persons has confirmed consumption of alcohol as cause of death.

He said that 10 more deaths have also occurred in different hospitals but due to other reasons and their viscera is being preserved for further investigation. He said that an FIR has been lodged in this case and more than 30 people have been detained for interrogation.