Illegal Liquor Trade Responsible for COVID-19 Surge in Golaghat District Busted, 18 People Arrested

JORHAT, ASSAM: 

A huge nexus of illegal liquor trade has been busted in Jorhat, a district in Upper Assam. After getting intel that there have been a massive surge in the cases of the novel coronavirus due to the gatherings which take place in the illegal liquor dens, the Excise Department Officials conducted a massive raid and discovered that scores of illegal liquor dens which have been operating illicitly were the major contributor for the transmission of the deadly infectious viral disease. 

In a week's time, as many as 18 people have been detained by the Assam Police for their involvement in the illegal liquor trade in the district, even as Golaghat is under total lockdown for the second time since Monday. In 29 operations throughout a week, Excise Department officials registered 54 cases and confiscated a large amount of illicitly distilled liquor, fermented wash, and distillation gear from various parts of the district. 

As per the latest SOP released by the government on Monday, day curfew will be imposed from 1 pm in the district of Golaghat. All shops and commercial establishment in the district is to be shut by 12 PM noon. As per NHM data, on Tuesday Golaghat registered 165 fresh cases of COVID-19. 

In light of the present Covid scenario in the state, the Assam government released a new set of SOPs on Monday. Assam Health Minister Keshab Mahanta issued the new instructions, stating that total lockdown will be imposed in the districts of Golaghat, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, and Sonitpur beginning July 19. Furthermore, due to an increase in Covid instances, close monitoring would be maintained in the districts of Dibrugarh, Nagaon, and Sivasagar.

Meanwhile, Assam registered 1,798 new COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday, taking the total tally in the state to 5,50,878. With 10 COVID-19 induced fatalities reported in the last 24 hours, the death toll stands at 5,029. The active cases in the state now stands at 16,250. 

Also Read - Assam Govt Announces Total Lockdown in 5 Districts, Day Curfew to be Imposed from 1 PM

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