Probe begins into Odisha hooch tragedy

Justice A S Naidu, a retired judge of the Orissa High Court appointed by the state government to conduct a judicial probe into the recent hooch tragedy in Cuttack and Khurda, has begun his investigation.

The death toll in the tragedy has gone up to 36 after a seriously ill patient died at Sriram Chandra Bhanja Medical College Hospital on Saturday. Kailash Bhoi, 65, a resident of Gopalgarh village in Cuttack district, was being treated in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
Justice Naidu, who was appointed by the government on February 10, visited the Cuttack hospital where most of the victims were admitted.

Besides collecting post mortem reports of the deceased, Naidu also spoke to Medical Superintendent D N Moharana and the head of the medicine department Sidhartha Das, about the condition of the patients at the time of being admitted.

He has been asked to submit a report within six months after ascertaining the causes and circumstances that led to the tragedy, besides lapses and negligence of the government officials.

Naidu would also submit his  recommendations to avert any such situations in future.
The tragedy which had taken place early this month has already cost excise minister A U Singhdeo his job.

Besides, three excise department officials have also been suspended.   The state excise commissioner and the controller of drugs have also been removed from their posts.

The state police and the excise department have joined hands to launch a massive operation across the state against illegal liquor trade. By Sunday morning, around 1,023 joints were raided and 677 people arrested, official sources said.