The death toll from the Siwan Hooch tragedy has now risen to 28, according to a release from the District Public Relations Officer on Thursday. The overall count in the state has reached 33, with 28 fatalities in Siwan and 5 in Saran. So far, 79 individuals have been admitted to Siwan Sadar Hospital and Basantpur Primary Health Center, while 13 critically ill patients have been transferred to PMCH Patna for treatment. Notably, 30 patients have been successfully discharged from the hospital, as confirmed by the Siwan PRO.
The post-mortem examinations for the 28 deceased have been completed, and their bodies have been returned to their families. The District Officer announced the formation of a medical board comprising five senior doctors, and additional beds have been reserved across local hospitals to manage the influx of patients: 30 beds in Siwan Sadar Hospital, 20 in CHC Basantpur, and 30 in Sub Division Hospital Maharajganj. Hospitals have been put on high alert for the next 24 hours, and extra ambulances have been deployed in the affected areas.
Furthermore, senior administrative officials have been assigned to all hospitals, with orders given to ANMs, Asha workers, Anganwadi workers, Vikas Mitra, and Panchayat workers to conduct door-to-door visits to check on the sick and identify any serious symptoms, referring those in need of serious care to hospitals.
The opposition party has criticized the Bihar government, arguing that its liquor ban strategy has failed. RJD leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav stated, “The liquor ban showcases the institutional corruption under Shri Nitish Kumar. If this ban is in place, it’s the government’s duty to enforce it thoroughly; however, due to the Chief Minister’s unclear ideologies and reliance on select officials instead of public representatives, the ban is a significant failure in Bihar.”
In response, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha assured on Friday that the government views this matter with utmost seriousness and that those responsible will be held accountable. He stated, “The government is investigating to identify the individuals involved. Those exploiting the vulnerable will not go unpunished. It’s worth noting that individuals involved in the liquor trade often align with the RJD. The liquor ban has been instituted with collective agreement, and everyone must cooperate to enforce it fully and cease shielding the criminals responsible for this tragedy.”