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Guwahati, Feb 23 : The death toll in the toxic liquor consumption incidents in Golaghat and Jorhat district has gone up to 94.
According to the official sources, 59 people have been died alone in Golaghat district, while 35 in Jorhat district so far.
The sources said that, 24 women were among the dead and death toll likely to increase as few people conditions among the hospitalised person are stated to be critical.
Over 240 people, who fell ill after consuming spurious liquor, are still admitted at the hospitals in the two eastern Assam districts.
Golaghat district Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dhiren Hazarika said that, 59 people including 15 women have been died so far in the district in three incidents.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has already ordered an inquiry into the tragedy and has instituted a one man inquiry and asked Upper Assam Division Commissioner Julie Sonowal to inquire into the corollaries of events leading to the death of people.
The Assam CM on Saturday had visited Jorhat Medical College hospital and took stock the situation.
Sonowal has announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the next kin of each victim and Rs 50,000 to each affected person.
The Assam CM had held an emergency meeting in Guwahati with senior officials including DGP and Chief Secretary and instructed police to take stern action against culprits.
Meanwhile, the Assam police and state excise department had arrested 10 people from Golaghat and Jorhat districts.
Assam Health minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma had also visited Jorhat Medical College hospital and Golaghat civil hospital, where patients are undergoing treatment.
Two teams of specialist doctors are deployed at Jorhat Medical College hospital and Golaghat civil hospital and another team has rushed to Golaghat from Guwahati.
On the other hand, Assam state excise department PRO Sailen Pandey said that, following the tragic incidents, the state excise department has conducted raids against spurious liquor across the state and arrested seven persons and destroyed over 15,000 litres of illicit liquor in past 24 hours.
Assam state excise department has also initiated a separate inquiry into the incident and suspended two excise department officers.
(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)
