Three lose vision in Bihar's hooch tragedy

Three of the four people undergoing treatment at a government hospital here have lost their vision after consuming spuriouis liquor that claimed 16 lives in Bihar's Gopalganj district, officials said on Saturday.

Of the six people referered in a critical condition from Gopalganj Sadar hospital to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PCMH) on Wednesday, two Munna Kumar and Nasir Alam, died on Thursday, while the rest suffered vision loss.

"After examination of their retina, it is clear that three of them -- Mohd Zahir, Anil Kumar and Bandhu Ram -- have permanently lost their vision," PMCH Head of Department (HoD-Eye) Umesh Prasad Sinha said.

Sinha said doctors are trying their best to treat them but it will be difficult for them to regain their vision.

He, however, appeared hopeful for a fourth patient, Dhananjay Kumar, whose eyes are showing signs of improvement.

Sinha said that vision loss is one of the most common side effect of methyl alcohol.

The Gopalganj hooch tragedy was reported on August 16.

On Friday, the District Magistrate Rahul Kumar had said that he planned to impose a collective fine on Khajurbani village where this hooch was produced.

Gopalganj Superintendent of Police Ravi Ranjan Kumar had also suspended 25 police personnel, including the Station House Officer of Gopalganj, for failing to effectively impose the liquor ban in the state.

This is first such action against police personnel following the worst hooch tragedy after total prohibition on liquor was enforced in Bihar on April 5.

The district administration has lodged an FIR against 14 people, including Nagina Paswan, a known kingpin involved in illicit liquor trade. Paswan was recently released from jail and has been absconding after the Gopalganj hooch tragedy on Tuesday.

--IANS

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