Odisha hooch tragedy: Plant root or chemicals poisoned the liquor?

Though as many as five valuable lives have been lost and 16 persons have been arrested so far in the unfortunate Chikiti hooch tragedy in Ganjam district, the exact reason behind the tragic deaths is yet to be ascertained even after 12 days.

As per reports, an investigation to find out the exact reason behind the deaths is still underway.

According to the Superintendent of MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Prof Suchitra Das and FMT Department head Prof Sudeepa Das, the country-made liquor might have been adulterated with some chemicals.

“Death occurs after consuming hooch due to methyl alcohol. It affects the eyes of the patient initially causing death. However, it is completely different in the case of the Chikiti Hooch tragedy. As per the symptoms of the patients, it is suspected that some other chemicals were mixed with the liquor from outside, and that is yet to be ascertained,” said Suchitra. 

“Due to excess mixing of some stuff, the alcohol might have become more poisonous. As a result, there was more likelihood of death. We are waiting for the viscera report. The exact cause of the deaths could be established after receiving the report,” said Sudeepa.

Meanwhile, Surendra Mallick, who has been arrested in connection with the incident, has confessed before Berhampur SP Sarthak Sarangi that a plant root named ‘Samudi Mula’ collected from the forest was mixed with the liquor to make it stronger. Sarangi is suspecting that the illicit liquor might have become more poisonous due to the side effects of the root.

“They mixed a kind of root collected from the forest in the liquor. It is locally called ‘Samudi Mula’. However, we are yet to know its botanical name. We have seized the root and sent it for chemical analysis,” said Sarangi.

“Earlier, they might have experimented and later mixed it in liquor. It will have side effects if mixed in heavy amounts,” said Sagar Tripathy, an Ayurvedic doctor.