At least 34 persons are said to have fallen sick by consuming spurious liquor at Swarna Bar in Krishnalanka, Vijayawada. Of the 34 victims, five persons died and the remaining 29 are undergoing treatment in private hospitals in the city.
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has visited a hospital and inquired about their health condition. On behalf of Government of Andhra Pradesh, he has announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to the families of each of the five deceased persons.
Responding swiftly, police has registered a case against former Congress MLA Malladi Vishnu. Meanwhile, the Excise Department officials have started conducting raids on several wine and liquor depots and bars & restaurants in Krishna district.
Since the victims had consumed Officer’s Choice Whisky brand of spurious liquor, the samples of the brand from across the district are being collected by the officials for conducting lab tests.
Already, the government has banded various brands of whisky in the state until the final report comes after conducting the lab tests.
