Mumbai Hooch Tragedy: Toll Rises to 84, 120 Affected

Hooch consumption kills 84 and leaves 120 affected in Mumbai’s Laxmi Nagar slum. Politicians react.

Mumbai police in Laxmi Nagar slum of Mumbai. (Photo: PTI)

It’s now confirmed that at least 84 people have died after consuming hooch, or spurious liquor in Mumbai. 120 others have been affected, with a dozen of them in a critical state.

The incident took place in Laxmi Nagar slum of suburban Malad, police said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has already ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Police said they have taken into custody two more persons identified as Fransis Thomas Demalo (46) and Salim Mahboob Shaikh (39), both residents of a nearby area where spurious liquor was sold, taking the total number of arrests to five.

Earlier, the police had arrested three persons in this connection – Raju Hanmanta Pascar (50), Donald Robert Patel (47) and Gautam Harte (30) who were produced before a local court which remanded them in police custody till June 26.

Meanwhile, eight personnel attached to Malwani police station, including a senior police inspector were suspended in connection with the incident.

This is the second biggest hooch tragedy in over a decade in Mumbai. 87 people had died after consuming spurious liquor in suburban Vikhroli in 2004.

Only last month, the Revenue Minister of Maharashtra, had made holograms compulsory on alcohol bottles to reduce the inflow of hooch

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