Hyderabad: The death toll in the suspected spurious liquor incident in Kukatpally and Balanagar rose to six by Wednesday, with over 100 people reportedly taken ill. Victims had consumed toddy from licensed outlets on July 7 in SP Nagar, Hydernagar, Shanthi Guda, and Bhagyanagar Colony under Balanagar excise station limits. Many returned home with vomiting and diarrhoea and were later admitted to hospitals.
Twenty-eight of the seriously ill were shifted to NIMS for advanced treatment. Police and excise officials are investigating as more cases emerge.
Confirmed fatalities include Seetharam, a watchman from Madigatla village in Vanaparthi district, who died during treatment at Gandhi Hospital. His wife filed a complaint with KPHB police. Another victim, Darimettu Swaroopa (61) of Hydernagar, also died after consuming toddy. Police halted a covert cremation allegedly arranged by the liquor outlet operators, aided by excise staff and a political leader. Her body was seized and sent for a post-mortem.
Additional deaths were reported from Alwyn Colony and Saicharan Colony. Victims include Chakali Bujjaya (55), Narayanamma (65), Maunika (25), and Narayana (45), with two of them confirmed dead by Wednesday night. Police noted that no formal complaints had yet been filed in those cases.
Sources alleged liquor mafias, aided by political and departmental actors, were working to suppress information to protect their operations. Some excise officials are suspected of helping obstruct complaints and press coverage.
Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao visited NIMS on Wednesday and reviewed the condition of the hospitalised victims.