Illicit liquor tragedy: Death toll rises to 16 in Andhra

Vijayawada: The death toll in Saturday night's liquor tragedy at Porata Nagar, a tribal hamlet near Kanimerla village in Krishna district here, on Sunday rose to 16.

While seven persons succumbed soon after they consumed the spurious liquor, nine more victims died today, an official said.

"16 people have died so far and 24 others are undergoing treatment," said Gaurav Uppal, Joint Collector of Krishna district.

The government has announced Rs two lakh financial assistance to the kin of the deceased, he said.

About 50 tribals, belonging to the Banjara community, from Porata Nagar and its surrounding hamlets had consumed the brew yesterday.

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Some of them complained of various health problems soon after taking the deadly concoction, while some others fell unconscious. They were rushed to hospitals in Vijaywada and Mylavaram and Visannapet.

Hitting out at the government over the tragedy, TDP MLA D Umamaheswara Rao and activists of Left parties and women's groups held a protest at the hospitals.

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They demanded Rs 10 lakh as ex-gratia, resignation of state Excise Minister M Venkataramana, who hails from the district, and action against Excise officials for their failure to check the illicit liquor trade in the district.

Slamming the state government over the tragedy, TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu charged that the government has become insensitive to the problems of the people.

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"Even after 24 hours, none from the government has visited the victims. They don't bother even when so many people died. Their main interest is power politics. Do they have the moral right to continue in office even for a minute," he told reporters in Hyderabad.