In Odisha, at least 29 persons have died of drinking spurious liquor. As many as 51 more persons are still struggling for life at the SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack. Deaths have taken place in several villages spread over Mahidharpada and Balianta areas of Cuttack and adjoining Khurda districts of Odisha. The Odisha Government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. AIR Correspondent repots that, Most of the victims were daily wage earners and worked in a brick klin in Cuttack. The labourers complained of chest and eye pain after consuming liquor on last Monday night. District magistrate and collector of Cuttack, Girish SN, has said that people within five km radius of Mahidharpada have been affected by the killer drink and the tragedy struck due to a
deadly mixture as country liquor had been mixed with some cough syrup procured from a pharma company located at Rasulgarh of Bhubaneswar.
The pharmaceutical company''s unit has been raided and sealed last night and further investigation is on. Two people have already been arrested in the case. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered a judicial inquiry into the hooch tragedy incident. Opposition Congress has rejected the judicial probe and demanded resignation of Chief Minister, Excise Minister AU Singh Deo, probe by Lok Pal into the incident and Rs 10 lakh compensation to the next-of-kin of the deceased