Hooch tragedy: Adityanath announces Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for deceased's kin

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of those who died after consuming spurious liquor and Rs 50,000 each to those who are undergoing treatment.

"These types of incidents happened in the past also. Many a time, SP workers were involved. Government has announced Rs. 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs.50,000 each to those who are under treatment as compensation," Adityanath told media here on Saturday.

While terming the incidents as unfortunate, Adityanath said he had a talk with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on the issue.

"Iinvestigation will be done. I also had a conversation with Uttarakhand CM on the incident. Strict actions will be taken and culprits will not be spared," said Adityanath.

Consumption of spurious illegal liquor has claimed the lives of 70 people in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, forcing government officials to launch a major crackdown to nab those responsible for distribution of illicit liquor in the states and its neighboring regions. While 13 people lost their lives in Uttarakhand, the death toll in Uttar Pradesh mounted to 56.

Anand Kumar, Additional Director General (Law and Order) Uttar Pradesh Police said 46 people have died in Saharanpur so far, while 10 people died in Kushinagar due to the consumption of illegal liquor that was created from smuggled substances.

"Some people who went to Haridwar, consumed the illicit liquor and they distributed it to their relatives in Saharanpur when they returned to Uttar Pradesh," he said.In Kushinagar, Kumar said illegal trafficking of liquor has been suspected to have taken place from Bihar.

"The police and excise team across the state are running a dense search to track the culprits," he informed.

Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh Police teams are carrying out joint operations and awareness campaigns along the UP-Uttarakhand border.

In a bid to crackdown on the producers of spurious liquor, police and excise department teams are conducting raids in various areas.