Uttar Pradesh hooch tragedy: Death toll climbs to 37, NHRC seeks report

Lucknow: The toll in the spurious liquor tragedy in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday climbed to 37 with four more deaths reported even as the NHRC took suo moto cognisance of the matter and issued notices to the state government seeking a reply in four weeks.

Two deaths each were reported in Etah and Farrukhabad, IG, (law and order) Hariom Sharma said in Lucknow, adding the toll in Etah now has reached 31, while in neighbouring Farrukhabad it is six.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the deaths, the NHRC observed the suspension of public servants pointed towards negligence on the part of the official machinery resulting in the tragedy.

It issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police seeking reports in the matter within four weeks.

The main accused Sripal Lodh has already been arrested and 11 officials from excise department and police have been suspended.

The government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the families of each deceased.

Over two dozen people were admitted in various hospitals in Etah and Saifai and their condition was stated to be serious.

Meanwhile to check manufacture and sale of illicit liquor, DGP Javeed Ahmed has issued strict directives to the officials in the districts to conduct a drive against the manufacture and sale of illicit liquor.

The authorities have launched a crackdown on bootlegging and arrested 1,621 people across Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, BSP Supremo Mayawati accused the state government of going soft on the officials responsible for the death.