10 people lose eyesight, 22 arrested in hooch tragedy

Hooch tragedy

A Correspondent

JORHAT: The hooch tragedy, which hit Golaghat district on February 21 and neighbouring Jorhat district the next day, claimed 156 lives while hundreds fell ill. Among the people affected, 10 have lost their eyesight, said Dr. Nilotpal Bhattacharyya, Deputy Superintendent and Public Relation Officer of JMCH, on Thursday.

Out of the 10, two are women. They are all still undergoing treatment at the Critical Care Unit of JMCH as they have been severely affected by the toxic methanol suspected to be used in the spurious liquor. “The recovery of all the 10 people will depend on proper medication and check-up from time-to-time,” said Dr. Bhattacharyya while talking to this correspondent. Vaibhav Nimbalkar, Jorhat Superintendent of Police, further said that since February 26, a total of 104 cases had been registered at various police stations, 22 persons had been arrested, 326 illicit liquor dens had been busted and 1,347 hooch fermenting units had been destroyed in a joint operation by the police and excise department. This operation will continue and in the meantime, steps are being taken to change the mindset of the people, said the SP.

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