Five die, 12 ill in Odisha hooch tragedy

At least five daily wage earners died and 12 fell ill after consuming spurious liquor in different areas under Cuttack sadar police station limit in Odisha, police said on Tuesday.

Over 20 labourers, working in a nearby brick kiln, complained of chest and eye pain after consuming liquor last night. Many of them were admitted to SCB Medical College at Cuttack in critical condition.

While three persons were brought dead to the hospital, two succumbed during treatment, hospital superintendent D N Moharana said.

The five deceased were identified as Baidhar Bhoi, owner of the liquor joint, Ugrasen Bhoi, Niranjan Bhoi, Bhaskar Das and Sura Das.

Baidhar's son Benudhar Bhoi and his wife Malati were arrested in connection with the incident.

"We have seized a huge quantity of ayurvedic liquid mixture stored at Bhoi's liquor shop. Most of the deceased were suspected to have consumed ayurvedic mixture available in the brand name of 'Jinger' and 'Suravhi'," State Excise Commissioner Sudarsan Nayak said.

Police and excise personnel were in search of other people who had consumed liquor at Bhoi's liquor shop, he said.