Days after the AMRI fire claimed more than 90 lives, at least 143 people are dead and more than 100 people are battling for life in one of the worst hooch tragedies in the country at Mograhat in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
Most of the victims who lost their lives are contractual workers and daily labourers, including rickshaw pullers and hawkers. While at least 143 people are confirmed dead, more than 100 are fighting for life at Diamond Harbour sub-divisional hospital, M R Bangur Hospital and at National Medical college. According to reports, victims started feeling stomach pain and body ache after consuming spurious liquor from several illegal joints around Sangrampur since Tuesday night.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a CID inquiry into the incident and ten people are already arrested after preliminary investigation. However, the owner of the illegal shop Badshah Khokon is absconding. The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 200,000 to the families of the deceased. “Illicit liquor is a social problem and an all-party decision must be taken to end this. The government will help these traders to switch to some other business,” Banerjee told the media. The state health department has already cancelled the leaves of doctors and para-medical staff to deal with the situation.
Blame game starts
While more than 100 people are still fighting for their lives, the political slugfest has already started in West Bengal over the incident. The state industries and commerce minister Partha Chatterjee alleged, “This is a conspiracy by the CPM goons. The state government has no control over the liquor mafia, which is led by the people affiliated to the CPIM. We want to stop this sort of trade and the chief minister has invited parties for an all-party meeting to stop this.”
On the other hand, CPIM blamed the state government for the situation. “The arrested person is a local TMC leader. It is with the support of the state government and police that these illegal activities are growing. It is the same opposition in power now, that said that we are making the state a liquor shop when we were planning to give licence to more liquor shops,” said CPM central committee member Mohammad Salim.
On the other hand, former MP and CPIM leader Sujan Chakraborty dared Chatterjee to prove the allegations, if there is any truth. Reports said at least 327 people were admitted to Diamond Harbour Hospital first, while some were dead and some are still battling for life.
This is one of the worst liquor tragedies that the country has ever seen. While five people lost their lives in West Medinipur on December 14 last year, 20 lost lives in East Medinipur on May 5, 2009, 2 dead in South 24 Paragnas itself on February 7, 2009 and January 5, 2008 Khidderpore tragedy claimed 28 lives.
