Lagatar24 Desk
Patna, Dec 18: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has decided to send out its own investigation team to look into the Bihar hooch tragedy ‘on the spot.’
In two districts of Bihar, eight additional people reportedly died on Saturday, according to officials. Saran’s neighbouring Siwan district saw six fatalities, and Begusarai saw two more.
Unconfirmed sources stated that up to 60 people may have already passed away in the Saran district after consuming illicitly produced country booze. Official estimates place the death toll at 30, though.
The Commission is interested in learning where and how these individuals are receiving medical care. Since most of them come from low-income families, they most likely cannot afford the expensive medical care found in private institutions. Accordingly, it becomes very essential on the side of the state government to give people access to the best medical care available, wherever it may be, it said in a statement.
“The Commission would like to know about the relief and rehabilitation given by the state government as well as the measures taken or proposed to be taken to dismantle clandestine hooch manufacturing hotspots across the state with a view to completely eradicate this social menace, intermittently happening in the state of Bihar,” the rights panel said.
The Bihar government and the state’s police chief have received letters from the NHRC about the Saran hooch disaster, authorities said on Friday.
Alcohol sales and consumption were totally outlawed in Bihar in April 2016, however the NHRC noted that ‘implementation has been spotty’ since then.
