The death toll in the Assam hooch tragedy has risen to 98, the state government said here on Saturday. Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said this in a WhatsApp message after visitingthe Golaghat Civil Hospital and Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH).
Of the 272 admitted to the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, 51 have died. At Golaghat Civil Hospital, 20 people were brought dead while 27 others died in the hospital.
Nine people have died in Golaghat and Jorhat combined, Sarma said. The toll is likely to increase as many deaths from remote villages have not been reported yet, he added.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of those dead and Rs 50,000 to hooch victims undergoing treatment. He asked the JMCH authorities to provide better medical facilities to the victims free.
Sonowal on Saturday visited the JMCH to take stock of the situation and asked the Health Department officials to take all necessary steps. He also expressed deepest condolences to the family members of the deceased.
The Chief Minister instructed Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of both Jorhat and Golaghat districts to make all necessary arrangements for providing relief to the affected families.
Earlier in the morning, the Chief Minister after a meeting with the Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police and other top officials, instructed them to take immediate steps to arrest and punish those responsible for the tragedy. He also ordered ban on the sell of illegal liquor.
The tragedy had struck the tea gardens of Golaghat and Jorhat districts after a large number of people consumed the spurious liquor on Thursday night at the Salmora tea estate in Golaghat, 300 km from here, and at two remote villages under the Titabor sub-division in Jorhat district.
State Excise Minister Parimal Shuklabaidya has ordered a probe into the matter.
--IANS
ah/arm/pcj
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