4 die of 'poisoning' in Bettiah

Bettiah: A 'mystery' poison claimed four lives, all mahadalits, at Jagjiwan Nagar in Bettiah on Friday. At least five others were reported ill.
"People in the vicinity deny that they consumed alcohol," DM Lokesh Kumar Singh said, adding the postmortem reports and medical examination of blood samples of the patients under treatment would determine the cause of the deaths.
The deceased include Jagjiwan Nagar residents Basanti Devi (40) and Hardeo Mullick (50), Lohiaria Mutth's Bachchu Mullick and Jogapatti's Jamuna Dom.
West Champaran civil surgeon Dr Nand Kumar Mishra said their viscera would be preserved after the autopsy.
Dr Arun Kumar Singh, superintendent of the M J K Hospital, said: "It is a suspected case of poisoning."
The patients include Julie, Ripu Raut (22), Rakesh Mullick and a woman identified as the wife of one Jhunnu Mullick, resident of Khekaria Tola near Lauriya.
The victims, who are believed to have participated in a wedding ceremony at Jagjiwan Nagar, suddenly took ill with acute stomach ache, vomiting and frothing at the mouth on Friday.
DM Singh and SP Vinay Kumar rushed to the hospital and asked the civil surgeon to ensure proper treatment of Ripu Raut (22) who was brought in a critical state. "Please ensure that he is stable before you refer him to Patna for better medical care," the DM told the CS.