Five adivasis die in Andhra Pradesh after consuming local, counterfeit toddy

Mangalore Today News Network

Amaravati, Feb 03, 2022: Five adivasis died in Andhra Pradeh’s East Godavari district on Wednesday, February 2, after consuming spurious, local-made liquor. The tribals reportedly died after consuming ‘jeelugu kallu’ (toddy) in the Rajavommangi mandal of the district.

 

Police have collected samples of the spurious toddy and sent them for testing in labs. An investigation has also been launched.

The victims belonged to the Lothoddi village near Rajavommangi and were identified as Gangaraju, Lovraju, Sanyasayya, Sugrevu and Yesubabu.

All of them were shifted to the hospital in the area after they fell sick. While two of them died in the local hospital, the remaining three were immediately rushed to the Kakinada Government General hospital, where doctors declared them dead.

Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief, Chandrababu Naidu, expressed shock over the death of five tribals due to consumption of spurious liquor.

Naidu conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.

“It was unfortunate that the YSRCP government was not even responding to the toddy tragedy which claimed the lives of innocent Adivasis,” said Naidu.

In his statement, the TDP chief blamed the state government’s liquor policy for these tragic deaths as the consumption of illicit liquor has risen in the past three years.

The former CM demanded that the YS Jaganmohan Reddy government pay Rs 25 lakh compensation to the families of the victims. He announced that his party would extend all necessary support to the tribal families.

Courtesy:India Today