Odisha's Lingering Hooch Menace: 231 Dead in 27 Years

Between 1992 and 2019, 231 people died in Odisha after consuming spurious liquor, with the highest casualty recorded in Cuttack in 1992. Despite significant fatalities, the government currently has no plans for rehabilitation or assistance. Recently, the hooch tragedy toll in Ganjam district increased to three.

In a tragic revelation, Odisha's Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan informed the assembly that 231 individuals have lost their lives to spurious liquor over a span of 27 years, from 1992 to 2019.

The minister, in a written response to Congress MLA Nilamadhab Hikaka, highlighted the alarming incidents, including the massive toll in Cuttack district in 1992 where 134 people perished.

Despite these grim statistics, Harichandan disclosed that there are no current governmental plans to provide assistance to those affected by hooch consumption or addiction. Curiously, while fatalities mount, the state continues to generate substantial revenue from liquor sales.

(With inputs from agencies.)