17 Dead In Hooch Tragedy In AP

The New Year has rung in with a hooch tragedy recording one death in Nalgonda district, and 16 in Krishna district, taking the total number of deaths to 17.

One person died, and 5 others fell ill, after consuming country liquor in Choutuppal of Nalgonda district on Sunday, while 2 more persons died in the hooch tragedy that struck Poratanagar of Mylavaram in Krishna, taking the toll to 16.

The 5 youngsters who were seriously ill after drinking hooch in Choutuppal were shifted to various hospitals in the city.

All the victins, including the one who died, were residents of Chityal mandal of Aregudem.

In an earlier tragedy, nearly 30 people fell ill after consuming country liquor in Poratanagar. While 14 people died till Saturday night, 2 more succumbed on Sunday.

The victims, including 3 women, belonged to tribal hamlets of Kanimorla and Poratanagar.

As many as 14 people are still undergoing treatment in hospitals at Nuzividu, Mylavaram and Vijayawada.

Relatives of the victims staged a protest outside the hospital, demanding compensation.

Meanwhile, the police arrested Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader D Umamaheswara Rao as he, along with relatives of the victims, sat on a "dharna" at the excise office at Mylavaram Saturday night, demanding action against the guilty and compensation of Rs. 10 lakh each to the families of the victims.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy ordered Krishna district Collector S A M Rizvi to enquire into the incident and submit a detailed report.

Excise minister Mopidevi Venkataramana also ordered a judicial probe into the incident. He also ordered the suspension of a Circle Inspector and a Sub-Inspector of Mylavaram's excise department.

It is being suspected that the liquor consumed by the victims apparently contained a poisonous substance. Samples were sent for chemical analysis. (INN)