In a tragic incident that has shocked the residents of Samastipur district in Bihar, a father succumbed to death after consuming poisonous illicit liquor, while his son lost his eyesight permanently from the same deadly brew. The heartbreaking event unfolded in a small village, highlighting once again the rampant menace of spurious alcohol in rural India.
Local police were alerted late on a fateful evening when the family reported severe symptoms. The father, identified as Ramu Yadav, a daily wage laborer, and his young son Ravi, aged 22, had ingested the toxic concoction during a local gathering. Neighbors rushed them to the nearest primary health center, but the damage was already irreversible.
Medical reports confirmed high levels of methanol in their systems, a common adulterant in fake liquor that attacks the nervous system and vital organs. Ramu breathed his last within hours, while Ravi’s vision deteriorated rapidly, leaving him in complete darkness. Doctors at the district hospital expressed grave concerns over Ravi’s future, stating that timely intervention might have saved his sight.
Authorities have launched a massive crackdown, raiding several illicit distilleries in the area. Excise officials seized hundreds of liters of suspected poisonous liquor and arrested three individuals linked to the supply chain. Preliminary investigations point to a local syndicate operating under the cover of agricultural activities.
This incident adds to a growing list of fatalities from spurious liquor in Bihar, where despite stringent prohibition laws since 2016, bootlegging thrives due to corruption and weak enforcement. Over the past year, dozens have died in similar cases across the state, prompting calls for stricter vigilance and public awareness campaigns.
Villagers are now demanding immediate compensation for the bereaved family and better healthcare facilities. Political leaders have visited the site, assuring action, but residents remain skeptical. As the probe deepens, the community mourns the loss of a breadwinner and prays for Ravi’s rehabilitation, underscoring the urgent need to eradicate this killer trade from the grassroots level.
