Hooch claims 34 lives in UP, many critical

As many as 34 people died and ten others were critical after consuming illicit liquor in Uttar Pradesh.

According to the police sources in Lucknow, on Friday, 24 people died after consuming illicit liquor in Saharanpur district, ten others died in Kushinagar district.

Sources said that ten people were being treated at government hospitals, where their condition was stated to be critical.

''The toll may go up as many are very critical,'' said an official in Lucknow.

Ten people have also died in Hardwar district in the neighboring Uttarakhand state after consuming illicit liquor, sources said.

Taking a serious view of the tragedy, the state government has suspended eight police personnel and the excise officers of Kushinagar and Saharanpur.

''A probe has been ordered into the matter... We will take stern action against those responsible,'' said a senior state government official in Lucknow.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed police and the excise department to launch a joint statewide campaign against illicit liquor.

The state government has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 2-lakh to the next of the kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 to those being treated at hospitals.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav blamed the state government for the tragedy.