Thirteen people died on Thursday after they consumed spurious liquor at Kharodi in Malwani on Wednesday night. They, and the others who consumed the liquor, started vomiting soon after and were rushed to civic-run hospitals, including Kandivali’s Shatabdi hospital, Parel-based KEM hospital and Nair hospital, after their condition deteriorated on Thursday morning. Some of them collapsed and died before they could be taken to hospital. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has asked the crime branch to submit a report within two days. He has asked the investigating agency to report on those in the government responsible for dereliction of duty, if any. Out of the deceased, 12 were identified as Mahabub Hussain Shaikh (43), Dinesh Kanojiya (40), Dattatray Dhonde Ghamare (53), Kanhei Sakai Harijan (40), Rohit Dagadu Bhalerao (24), Laxman Yemapure (40), Ashok Harish Khemadi (25), Ramtekar Ramesh (40), Satavan Bhiku Mhatre (40), Vijay Ravi Gajala (27), Pramod Shankar Shirke (43), David Chettiar. One of the victims has not been identified. The bodies were sent for post mortem. [related-post] Police said that the victims had gone to Malwani to consume liquor on Wednesday night and had then returned home. “Since early Thursday morning, they started vomiting. Some of them collapsed,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) Dhananjay Kulkarni. Kulkarni added that on Thursday evening, Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria ordered the Crime Branch to take over investigations. Police have registered a case under 304, 328, 34 IPC and under sections of the Prohibition Act and arrested two suspects. At least 10 patients are admitted to hospital and of them, at least seven are in a critical condition. One of them, Paul Chettiar, is on ventilator support at KEM hospital, said Dr Avinash Supe, dean at KEM. According to sources at Kandivali’s Shatabdi hospital, some of the patients were transferred to tertiary-care hospitals after they could not be stabilised. Dr R N Bharmal, dean tertiary-care Nair hospital, said three patients would require dialysis. “The three patients have stopped vomiting. They have not gained consciousness,” Bharmal said, adding there are chances of them slipping into coma. mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com
