Liquor death toll climbs to 37

House, brewery of accused set ablaze

TANDO MUHAMMAD KHAN: As the figure of people who died after consuming toxic liquor climbed to 37 on Tuesday, an enraged mob set the house and brewery of accused Ali Nawaz Panhwar ablaze.

Officials at the hospitals in Hyderabad and Tando Muhammad Khan confirmed 37 deaths.  The Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital, Dr. Wajid Memon, said that 22 people, including four women, died after drinking toxic liquor while nearly a dozen others were being treated at the hospital.

The tragic incident triggered grief in the area as various households lost their loved ones. Meanwhile, the SSP and DSP of the area were suspended by the Inspector General of Police.

Tando Muhammad Khan Police conducted raids at different illegal breweries where they seized a large quantity of liquor and arrested 10 people.   The Excise and Taxation Minister, Gayan Chand, on Tuesday suspended all the staff of the excise department of the district.