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Patna,(BiharTimes): In yet another incident of hooch tragedy at least ten people died in the Mehndiganj and Khajekalan areas of Patna City on on Friday morning.
Officials initially denied that the tragedy occurred due to spurious alcohol and attributed it to the cold wave. Even chief minister Nitish Kumar refused to comment on the issue when the reporters sought his comment after the news came about so many deaths.
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District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh said one body was sent for post mortem examination, while the bodies of five others were cremated by their family.
The families of two others were being convinced to provide the bodies for post mortem examination. Three of the victims were aged above 70 years, he added.
There are reports that two more persons died after consuming illicit liquor in a slum colony near GPO near Patna railway station as well. However, there is no official confirmation about it.
More than 50 people died in December in Ara and Gaya after consuming illicit liquor. Four more died on the eve of New Year in a Madhubani village.
What is strange is that the government initially refused to accept that the deaths occurred due to alcohol, but attribute the tragedy to cold wave. This prompted people to cremate bodies even before post mortem could be done.
The temperature on Friday morning was not so cold that so many people die in just two particular areas of Patna. This created suspicion among the local people forcing the government to concede.
Most of those found involved in the illicit liquor trade are those close to powers that be or are people having strong connection.
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