(Updated with names of dead and sick, 0948 NST, 0403 GMT, Tuesday)
Six die after consuming homemade liquor
BIRGUNJ, Feb 3: Three people died and seven became ill after consuming country liquor in Rautahat Monday night, Rautahat police said.
Among those dead are Bilas Raut, Indra Raut and Rajendra Hazra of Gamariya-2 village in the district.
The sick people – Ramnath Thakur, Bhola Raut, Shiv Dayal Ram, Akshay Baitha, Tej Narayan, Kul Mandal and Shambhu Das Hazra -- are being treated at Gaur and Narayani Sub-regional hospitals in Birgunj.
All of them consumed liquor at the illegal outlet of Bilas Raut at weekly market. The people had taken the country liquor at around 8 p.m. and three died around midnight.
Police from Garuda have reached Gamariya and they have already arrested a youth in connection with the incident. They have also seized the illegal liquor. Superintendent of Police Dhananand Bhatt said the liquor sample would be tested to find the exact cause of death and illness.
Instances of people dying or falling ill after consuming illicit liquor appear from time to time.
